A BOATING expert says the recent floods which have devastated parts of Worcestershire have been made worse by the failure to dredge the River Severn.

Stephen Peters, council member of the National Association of Boat Owners, says the river is in desperate need of extensive dredging to increase the depth of water.

Last week's floods - the worse in 40 years - brought the Faithful City to a standstill, forcing main roads, including Worcester's road bridge, to be closed.

Hundreds of residents have had to be evacuated from their Worcestershire homes and many shops and businesses abandoned.

The flooding also resulted the Worcester Royal Infirmary's Castle Street Hospital being evacuated for the first time in its 250-year history when water came within inches of the hospital's main electricity supply.

Mr Peters says despite being classified as a commercial waterway controlled by British Waterways, the River Severn is so shallow in some places even small boats have problems.

"In some places small pleasure cruisers can experience lack of water in normal conditions," he said.

"Cargo vessels of former years would not now be able to make their voyages. The river requires urgent dredging to increase the depth of water to assist with leisure boating and water shortages as well as increasing the capacity of the river.

"This will also improve its vital drainage facility."

Mr Peter's comments have been backed up by readers writing to the Evening News.

"Every summer the Severn was dredged but you never see it done now," said one.

But a spokesman for British Waterways said the River Severn was still being dredged in Worcester.

"We have responsibilities to maintain the dredging of the river with the Environment Agency," he said.

"We spend £100,000 a year dredging the Severn and the last time it was dredged was in April, as part of an ongoing programme."