Ironbridge Regatta races cancelled as river level swells

Up to 40 races at this year's Ironbridge Regatta had to be cancelled after the River Severn suddenly rose by 4ft on what was the hottest day of the year so far.

More than 2,000 people lined the river along the World Heritage Site over the two-day event, held on Saturday and yesterday.

A spokesman for Ironbridge Rowing Club said it was still unclear as to why the level of the river suddenly shot up yesterday afternoon.

"We had some problems with the water level and we had to suspend racing in the afternoon. We had about 40 races left to do," he said.

"We had to suspend it because the river came up about 4ft. We don't know what caused it, whether it was the amount of rain in Wales or whether they opened up the dam.

"But it became unsafe because there were lots of logs in the water."

A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency today said it would be looking into the sudden rise in water levels on the River Severn.

The event saw hundreds of competitors successfully race over the two days and organisers today said the event was a success.

"It was a very good weekend," he added. "Everyone enjoyed it and it is always a very friendly regatta."

Organisers of the regatta said Ironbridge Rowing Club had been in existence since 1870 and for many of those years the club had held its regatta on the River Severn at the end of Dale End Park.

The club was one of the first rowing clubs to be founded away from the Thames Valley.

Another landmark date for the club was in September 1996 when it won a Lottery grant to start work on a new boathouse.

The boathouse was completed in 1997 and officially opened by Olympic rowers Guin and Miriam Batten in April 1998.

The club has said it is possible to use 4.5 miles of the River Severn all year round, except in conditions of extreme flooding.

By Jason Lavan