WORCESTER News readers have been sending in their memories of river boat party cruises, once a regular fixture on the River Severn.

Earlier this week we reported that the Severn Traveller and Pride of the Midlands party cruises have not been seen on river for the past year, sparking fears the popular party cruises had come to end.

This appeared to be confirmed by Dan Russell, who wrote in a social media post that he was owner of Worcester River Cruises.

In the post he said the Severn Traveller is now a house boat, while the Pride was also set for the same fate.

Ron Hartell said: "Sad to hear both boats are coming to an end.

"Back in 1974 I started my apprenticeship at RW Davies ship yard - the Moreland barge that was being converted at the time was the Pride. I helped fit the two engines and other fitting on the boat.

"I think it was some time in 1975 that we finished the Pride and one Saturday I was ask to go on her first trip to Worcester."

Reader Phil Macdonell said: “My wife, Linda and I first met at a party on the Severn Traveller in 1972, we were married four years later.

“Linda also worked behind the bar and her oldest brother had held his wedding reception on the Traveller.

“Although sad to see them go, at least it sounds as if they are going to have a new lease of life, and be lovingly looked after.”

Sophia Wolsey said: “Very sad the Pride is no longer running. My partner Rich and I met on there in 2015, during a St Richard’s Hospice event. It was love at first site and the joke among staff at St Richards is that the Pride was from then on named the ‘Love Boat’.

“We went back on to the Pride for our one year anniversary and always called it “our boat”, whenever it passed us on the river.

“We’ll be sad to not see it running up and down the river again.”

Tracey Fallan said: “Many happy hours working on the boats.“They will be missed. When I worked on them the boats were out most of the time. They were used for race days, weddings, private parties, day trips and party nights.”

Patrick Walton added: “We spent several enjoyable parties on one or the other of these two boats.”

Worcester Boat Trips, which offers 45 minute cruises using the Earl boat, still runs daily on the river, departing from South Quay.