A CAMPAIGN has been launched to raise £5,000 for a canal boater who has been left homeless when his boat sank after being swamped by a group of drunken men speeding in two hire boats.

Fellow canal boaters spent Saturday trying to raise George Ward's narrowboat after it sank overnight on Friday near Smelly Bridge on the Kennet & Avon Canal between Bradford on Avon and Avoncliff.

The justgiving campaign has already raised more than £3,335 towards the target as George has been left homeless by the tragedy.

His close friend, Laura Darling, said: “George is a vulnerable man who lives on his boat on the canal.

“Due to some verbally aggressive youngsters who were speeding on hire boats this weekend his boat is now sinking. This is his home and if the community can’t manage to re-float it, he will be homeless.

“If people do manage to re-float his boat it will need some cash injected to make it habitable again for him. At this rate, perhaps even a new boat. If you can spare anything, it would be going to such a good cause.”

Ms Darling said that earlier she had been verbally abused by some members of a large group of drunken men in two hire boats after telling them off for speeding and crashing into boats on the canal.

She said she had called the hire boat company, ABC Boat Hire of Alvechurch in Worcestershire, to complain about the group and their behaviour on the canal.

She added: “The worst part is that George is homeless. I feel gutted for him and I can’t imagine how he must feel today.

“He is safe, he has a bed tonight, food and new clothes (thanks to one amazing lady) a team of boaters who tried to re-float his boat with pumps and gennies but to no avail unfortunately.”

Police said they had received one complaint at 7.30pm about the group verbally abusing someone near the Tithe Barn.

Efforts to re-float George’s boat will continue this week.

To donate go to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/georgekanda