BOATERS using the Avon will find a more user-friendly lock at Nafford this year.

And someone may even have more time on their hands after a watch was found in the lock.

The Lower Avon Navigation Trust (LANT) has carried out £35,000 worth of improvements to Nafford Lock, installing new paddle gear, new gate sills and safety ladders.

The upper landing stage has been rebuilt and a new, longer, lower landing stage makes the lock easier to operate with better mooring places. It also provides more space for boats to queue up while they wait to use the lock.

Repairs have been made to the brickwork, and the swing bridge has been serviced by LANT on behalf of Worcestershire County Council.

When draining the lock, workers found a mobile phone and a watch in the mud. The phone was beyond repair, but the watch still works and LANT consultant John Taplin said he hopes to reunite the watch with its owner.

Mr Taplin said: "Someone made a comment to us and said that they had lost a watch.

"We have the name of a boat and we now hope to track its owner down so we can try and find out whether the watch belongs to him."

He added: "After the severe floods of 1998, we are very pleased to report that this winter was back to normal, with only minor flooding.

"This has caused no damage to our infrastructure and the Navigation is in good condition, ready to welcome boaters."

Strensham Lock has also been improved. The top gates have been refurbished and new lower gates and sills have been installed. New safety ladders have been added and the upper landing stage has been rebuilt and extended.