A couple preparing to travel almost 1,000 miles by river to take part in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Flotilla have only got as far as Tewkesbury after running into troubled waters.

Andrew and Wendy Dyke, both Evesham town and Wychavon district councillors, set off on their marathon trip eight days ago but almost as soon as they got going, they were stopped in their tracks due to rising and dangerous floodwaters. Mr Dyke said it had been a frustrating wait but hoped to be able to move on to the next stage of their journey by the weekend, although their route to the capital will now have to be changed.

“We left Pershore early on Thursday morning. When we got to Tewkesbury the lock keeper told us not to go out. Since Thursday the river has come up and up by about 15 feet. The pinch point is at Tewkesbury where the rivers Avon and Severn meet.

“I would hope the river gets back to an amber warning by the weekend and then we will be able to move on.”

The flotilla, which takes place on Sunday, June 3, will be the largest of modern times with a thousand boats expected to take part.

Mr and Mrs Dyke will travel 988 miles and negotiate 727 locks before arriving home in September.