TWO BOATS WERE SET alight yesterday (Wednesday) on the Paddington Arm.
Closed navigation and towpath
This has closed both the navigation and towpath, Keith Gudgin reports.
The arson has closed the Arm between bridges 11aa and 11b, as the boats block the navigation together with the towpath that has debris from the fire.
Such was the attack that both of the boats sank, so it is believed they are cruisers and not narrowboats, but there is no information at present.
Police investigating
The fire was noticed and the emergency services alerted, with the fire service dousing the fires and the police closing the towpath and investigating.
It was the police that closed the towpath with pedestrians advised to avoid the area until further notice, and told that navigation may be restricted or difficult in the area.