A TRADITIONAL stopping boat, an ancient method of capturing salmon once commonplace in the Severn and Wye, is set to become a new exhibit at Soudley's Dean Heritage Centre.

The boat, in good order and fully equipped, is to be moved from the Environment Agency's Tewkesbury office in February.

The Heritage Centre is making indoor space available for the boat which was once used in the Wye fishery.

Trustee John Belcher said the Heritage Centre welcomed the boat as a valuable addition to the collection.

"Fishing was once an important industry locally. Stopping boats were common to Wellhouse Bay near the old Severn Railway Bridge where they were fished for many years by the Morse family. Until 20 years ago they were to be regularly seen fishing in the Wye. Sadly both fisheries have now closed," he said.

Mr Belcher added that the Environment Agency would also be providing information boards detailing how the boats were fished.