A new weed lifting boat has been delivered to the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation in time to deal with the summer weed growth.

The new Dutch built boat will partner Essex Waterway's similar weed cutting boat purchased last year.

The purchase of the new boat has been made possible by a grant of £20,000 from the Essex County Council Community Initiatives Fund.

County Councillor Roger Hirst, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Libraries, Planning and the Environment said: "The Community Initiatives Fund is an excellent example of how Essex County Council is supporting communities to help themselves.

"By increasing the opportunities for local residents, community groups and volunteers individually to shape their local facilities and undertake new ventures, we will see them make Essex an even better place to live and work than it is today.

Chairman of Essex Waterways, Roy Chandler said: "The new weed lifter is already enabling Essex Waterways to deal more efficiently and effectively with the rapid summer weed growth on the 14 mile recreational waterway."

Unless removed, weed growth prevents boating, canoeing, paddle-boarding and angling and has an adverse effect upon wildlife and fish.

Essex Waterways Ltd is a volunteer led not-for-profit company which maintains and operates the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation for public benefit and Mr Chandler added: "We are therefore extremely grateful for this help from the Community Initiatives Fund which allows us to improve our work on the Navigation."