Boater in police stand-off

THE normally calm Shropshire Union Canal had its drama yesterday (Saturday) with an eight hours stand-off with police at Market Drayton.

A boater with a knife refused to leave his narrowboat that was moored in the town, with the towpath being sealed-off and as it became dark, floodlights erected on the scene, Richard Hall tells us.

Harm himself

After a disturbance a boater refused to leave his boat, threatening to do himself harm with a knife if they came near.

The police had little option but to call in negotiators, and eventually the man gave himself up, and was arrested during the evening, then taken into custody for questioning at Shrewsbury police station.

His name or that of the boat has not been released.