ALVECHURCH Boat Centre played host to an official naming ceremony after building a prestigious Royal Air Force narrowboat.

The 66ft semi-traditional boat was named Lord Portal after the first Viscount of Hungerford and British Marshal of the Royal Air Force Charles Portal, at the Scarfield Wharf centre last Wednesday.

The boat cost £72,000 and took centre staff three months to build.

Lord Portal's nephew Charles Welby led the naming ceremony, attended by RAF Cranwell station commander Capt Paul Colley.

The Lord Portal will be operated and maintained by Alvechurch Boat Centre and is available for hire.