Dozens of people have been left stranded for Christmas after a giant hole emerged in a section of the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire on Monday.
Initially thought to be caused by a sinkhole, engineers later said the embankment in Whitchurch had collapsed, causing water to flood out. Two boats were left at the bottom of a deep trench and others lay on dry canal bed.
Many other liveaboards - people who live on narrowboats full-time - now cannot pass through the area, leaving them stuck either on the Llangollen side of the collapse, or the side joining the Shropshire Union Canal.
They include Geoff and Pamela Poole, who were just three boats away from the breach and were alerted by neighbours.
"The whole boat was listing and everything had fallen," said Mrs Poole, who was awoken by people banging on her vessel's door at about 04:20 GMT.
