A WORCESTER pleasure boat company which ran into deep water for operating without licences has been ordered to pay more than £6,000 by magistrates.

John Bligh, the owner of the Worcester Steamer Company, was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay in excess of £2,000 in compensation after his cruisers were spotted on the River Severn without Trip Boat Licences.

Earlier this month, the company sailed into troubled waters when Blackpole firm Pets at Home organised a £12-a-head annual party on the pleasure cruiser the Pride of The Midlands.

The party of 180 people demanded their money back after finding the cruiser's toilets were leaking, pools of water in the boat and no bar staff.

During yesterday's hearing, Mark Hammond, prosecuting, told Droitwich magistrates the company's licence for the crafts had expired on Saturday, March 31.

But both vessels were spotted on the river by Malcolm Griffiths, canal and river warden for Gloucester and the River Severn, on Friday, May 4.

"When Mr Griffiths was on patrol it was noticed neither the Pride of the Midlands or the Severn Traveller had licences," said Mr Hammond.

"A letter was sent to the company on Tuesday, May 31, giving it until Wednesday, June 20, to get buy the necessary licences."

But on Saturday, June 2, the Severn Traveller was again spotted a without licence, as was the Pride of the Midlands the following day.

"When Mr Bligh was approached about the lack of licences he said it was an oversight and would be licence the boats as soon as possible," said Mr Hammond.

Magistrates found company owner Mr Bligh, who did not attend yesterday's hearing, guilty on all four charges of failing to license the boats and fined him £1,000 for each offence.

He was ordered to pay compensation of £2,327 for the licences and £287 in costs.

Speaking after the case, British Waterways spokeswoman Clare Bampton said she was delighted with the outcome.

She added the money raised from the licences enabled the authority to maintain and improve the rivers.

"We feel it's a fair charge for all users which allows us to keep up the river," she said.

"It's unfair for those who pay to have others taking advantage of the work without paying."

The Worcester Steamer Company could not be contacted before the Evening News went to press this morning.

* 'We'll be back in business'

WORCESTER Steamer Company owner John Bligh told the Evening News he hoped the firm would be back operating on the Severn by this weekend.

Mr Bligh could not be contacted yesterday, but earlier this week he said it had been a "frantic" time.

The company has been out of action for two weeks after a series of problems.

"We've been having a few problems but we're on the verge of solving them," said Mr Bligh, who runs the business from its office at the Diglis Hotel.

He said he was in dispute with the city council over the boating station at North Quay, but had found alternative moorings for the company's two cruisers.

The Severn Traveller and the Pride of the Midlands had been moved from the North Quay site and were being kept on private moorings at Diglis Docks.

"We moved them up there to keep them out of the way, but we've found temporary moorings by the rowing club near to the Grandstand," said Mr Bligh.

"The problem we're having at the moment is that British Waterways needs to be certain the temporary moorings are up to scratch."

Day-trippers and party-goers who had had their trips cancelled have been guaranteed refunds.

Mr Bligh said seven of the £12-a-head trips had been axed.

He also denied all rumours the company was being liquidated.