IT remains unclear how a passenger boat sank in Diglis Dock – and the vessel is yet to be removed from the water by the owners.

‘The Earl’, owned by Worcester Boat Trips and which takes passengers up the River Severn to the city centre, mysteriously sank last Tuesday evening and can still be seen submerged at the lock near Diglis Bridge.

A Canal and River Trust spokesman said no conclusions have been reached as to how it went down but that it “isn’t blocking navigation” for other boats, meaning it is up to the owners to remove it.

“If boats go down in one of our rivers or canals, first of all, we make sure no one was on board and then alert other boat users,” he said.

“We then make sure everyone can navigate and it’s not blocking other boats – if it is, we will get it moved to a safe position.”

He said: “The owner is then responsible for getting it moved.

“They will have to call salvage companies and then would usually liaise with us to work out the best way of removing it.”

Prior to the sinking, The Earl would depart from South Quay every hour for a 45-minute cruise where tea, coffee, soft drinks and snacks were available alongside a fully licensed bar.

And from August 2017, it would also transform into a weekend music venue called Notes on the Boat.

Tony Harris, a city resident who often walks along the Severn Way and near Diglis Island, said he was “shocked” to see the wreckage.

Speaking on Friday, the 65-year-old said: “The pleasure cruises go from outside the technical college – it’s been running a while, since I can remember.”

Mr Harris said the boat is moored up each night alongside Diglis Island.

Worcester Boat Trips did not wish to comment.