A dilapidated narrowboat, used for community trips, is to undergo extensive refurbishment thanks to the fundraising efforts of the South West Herts Narrowboat Project.

Over the years, “Dick’s Folly”, a red, yellow and green wooden boat, has been used by charitable group the South West Herts Narrowboat Project, to offer day and evening trips to a variety of organisations including Mencap.

In March this year, the boat’s sewage valve broke, causing the plumbing to overflow and the inside to disintegrate.

Group members were forced to strip the pine interior - leaving them with a hefty £50,000 bill for a refit.

Having been moored in the Grand Union Canal, near Croxley Green, since the Rickmansworth Festival in May, yesterday morning, the boat was lifted out of the waters and onto a truck to be transported for a refit in Worcestershire.

Peter Lincoln, who has been a member of the project since it started in 1989, said: “When we first saw the leak, well it was devastating, we couldn’t believe what had happened to the boat.

“The narrowboat project was started by senior youth worker Dick Gettings – we renamed it from Lady Capel to Dick’s Folly after Dick died some years ago.

“It’s become important to the community as we allow groups such as the scouts to use the boat to learn about life on the water and team-building skills.

“The project is entirely run by volunteers – we maintain, clean and prepare the boat for users, look after the base, crew as necessary and offer training.

“We give our time for free, all we ask for is a small donation to cover our running costs.”

Following a number of grants and fundraisers including raffles, the South West Herts Narrowboat Project has managed to raise more than £16,000.

John Blake, project member, said: “Starline, who will be refurbishing the boat, has given us a quote for £37,000 for the refit – but they haven’t seen it yet. We estimate it will be closer to the £50,000 mark.

“They understand the dire position we have found ourselves in with the boat, so are allowing us to pay for the work as we raise the cash. So of course, this means there will be plenty more fundraisers in the pipeline.

“It’s been truly wonderful to see the community rally around to help us raise so much money, it could be some time yet before “Dick’s Folly” is in ‘ship-shape’ condition, but we’ll get there.”