THE first stage of work to restore the last of the Severn ferries has been completed by staff and apprentices at a local engineering company.

The Severn Princess was one of three ferries that crossed the river between Beachley and Aust before the opening of the original bridge.

The ferry was found by a group of friends from Chepstow in Ireland 15 years ago where it had been abandoned and was in a very poor condition.

They formed the Severn Princess Restoration Group and were delighted when Mabey Bridge in Chepstow agreed to assist with bringing the 56-year-old vessel back to her former glory.

Staff and apprentices at Mabey Bridge in Chepstow spent the last three months removing eroded parts of the hull and structural elements from the wheelhouse and deck.

The team working on the project also had to drain a large amount of water from the hull, which is now being given a final layer of protective paint – also donated by Mabey Bridge – to complete the initial stabilisation phase.

To mark the milestone Mabey Bridge's production director Philip Clegg presented a commemorative certificate to the Mayor of Chepstow, Cllr Ned Heywood.

Mr Clegg said: "Mabey Bridge is delighted to have successfully completed this vital first stage of the restoration project.

"We are proud to have been able to lend our expertise as well as the skills of our apprentices, and through our Bridging Time campaign we have donated both materials and time to this project.

"The Severn Princess is an important cultural and industrial artefact for the town of Chepstow and the company remains committed to its restoration."

Steve Armstrong, special projects engineer at Mabey Bridge said, "It was vital that we arrested the degradation of the Severn Princess.

"She's not in a great condition, but she's held together well considering what she's been through.

"Stabilising the vessel allows the Restoration Group to better assess her condition and plan the next stage. The restoration project will take some time and a considerable investment to complete and this work has been critical in preparing the vessel for the next phase."

Cllr Heywood added: "It was wonderful to see the work start in June, and we are immensely grateful to Mabey Bridge, not only for the invaluable experience the company has brought to this project, but for the manpower the company has generously donated.

"There is a long way to go, but this is a wonderful first step and we are looking forward to continuing with this project."

For more information visit http://www.severnprincess.org.uk">www.severnprincess.org.uk or www. bridgingtime.co.uk.