A MEMORIAL bench was unveiled in Droitwich on Saturday in honour of a much-loved boating enthusiast who tragically died last year when his narrowboat got into difficulty and sank.

The bench, placed on Vines Park, will serve as a lasting tribute to Allen Green, aged 49, who heroically pulled his elderly mother and dog to safety before dying in Lock 5 of Droitwich Junction Canal on July 25 last year.

Council dignitaries, including Droitwich mayor Shaun Best, WBDCS chairman David Wheeler and vice chair Margaret Rowley, Waterways Chaplain Rev Richard Alford and Allen Green's mother Jean, friends and family all turned out to the unveiling ceremony.

The bench is located alongside the canal near where Mr Green lived in Netherwych Garden Basin.

It has been paid for through various means, including fundraising carried out by Worcester-Birmingham & Droitwich Canals Society (WBDCS) and a donation page set up by friend Richard Clements.

WBDCS spokesman, Tony Brannon, said: "The unveiling went extremely well. We had great weather, it really couldn't have been better.

"We had a good turnout- 20-30 people, which is more than expected."

Recently the society, held a musical bingo event at The Gardeners Arms, in Droitwich, which raised almost £250 towards the bench.

During the tragic event, the lock was drained and firefighters pulled Mr Green from the vessel, but despite lengthy resuscitation efforts he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Rescue workers say it could have taken as little as two minutes for the narrowboat to fill with water.

For more information about the society go to wbdcs.org.uk.