Thousands expected at international boat show

Thousands of people are expected at a major boating festival celebrating the best of Britain's inland waterways.

The annual Crick Boat Show features more than 200 exhibitors, live music and food stalls alongside a vast showcase of canal boats.

Now in its 25th year, the event near Daventry in Northamptonshire is the UK's largest inland waterways festival.

Stephen Hardy from the Canal and River Trust said: "We're expecting 26,000 people over the course of the weekend and it's brilliant there's still that level of interest in boating and our canals."

More than 30 new boats are due to be displayed this year, as well as nine historic working boats.

One of the highlights is seeing huge narrowboats being lifted into position by crane.

Mr Hardy added: "There are some boats that cannot reach here by water, so they have to be craned in.

"Some of the narrowboats are brought by trailer and then are craned in as well. You see some heavy loads up and down the motorway."

Show director Peter Johns added: "The build period takes 11 days. It doesn't stop. The planning [for next year's event] starts almost immediately."

The Crick Boat Show runs from 24 to 26 May.

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