Prince William’s duchy removes abandoned boats from Devon river

Prince William’s estate, the Duchy of Cornwall, has stepped in to remove abandoned boats from a south Devon river.

It follows concerns from local residents about pollution and navigational hazards from six boats on the River Avon, near Aveton Gifford.

The duchy, which owns the riverbed between Aveton Gifford and Bigbury, said the clean-up operation involved specialist contractors to remove the unseaworthy boats.

The vessels were then transported to a recycling and processing facility in Southampton.

Local residents had raised alarms about abandoned boats in the estuary, one of which was almost completely submerged at high tide.

There were fears that fuel and oil left on board could leak into the water, threatening the delicate estuarine ecosystem.

Matthew Morris, rural director of the Duchy of Cornwall, said: “We are pleased to be able to remove the abandoned vessels from the River Avon.

“Our marine estuary environments provide important habitats for a range of species and are enjoyed as a place of recreation by both locals and visitors alike.”

He said the issue of abandoned vessels was “one that the Duchy of Cornwall is working to address across its marine portfolio alongside its partners”.

“We are committed to creating a positive impact for people, places, and planet, and protecting our marine environment is key to this,” he said.