ENVIRONMENT agency workers have been repairing land destroyed by a boat being pulled to safety from the River Thames.

John Simmonds's boat 'One Old Peculier' became untied from its moorings and crashed into Botley Bridge in February this year.

After raising it from the river bed, the Environment Agency was forced to dismantle a wall in order to drag it onto the riverbank as it was blocking the Thames.

The riverbank remained damaged over the past three months but the Environment Agency said it had to wait until now to make repairs because it needed to wait until river conditions were safe to continue work.

Spokeswoman for the Environment Agency Auria Dee said it has used the time to source suitable bricks, including specially shaped bricks ones.

She said: "The area has been closed to the public since the emergency removal of a sunken boat in February this year, which required part of the riverside wall and fencing to be removed.

"The reinstatement works will restore the area to how it was before the incident in order for the public to use.

"The works will include: re-building the riverside wall, repairing the riverside fencing, backfilling the excavated slipway, repairing paving slabs, replacing a bench and levelling uneven ground."

The Environment Agency could not confirm how long it would take to complete the project or how much repairs would cost in total.