DELIGHTED volunteers are 'over the moon' a boat which provides trips across the River Severn for 50p has found a home for winter. 

Volunteers feared the cathedral ferry boat - affectionately named Doris - may 'die and never come back' if they could not find storage while it was not in use. 

But, following an urgent plea in the Worcester News, the group were offered an 'incredible' place for Doris to stay and be properly maintained. 

An appeal article from the Worcester News was eventually seen by Martin Pinches, director of M Pinches and Sons, who agreed to house Doris in his storage facility. 

The new ferry master Stephen Cope said: "My concern was if we couldn't give her proper maintenance then eventually she would die. 

"The call from Martin came completely out of the blue, my phone rang and we were at the premises within the hour. 

"I'm absolutely delighted, compared to what we expected to endure which was putting her on someone's drive out in the open it's marvellous, I really am over the moon. 

"Her new accommodation is brilliant, I really am over the moon and can't thank Martin enough.

"She's a perfect craft to be the ferry, she's a very stable boat and people feel safe in her."

Doris has been providing trips every Sunday and bank holiday Monday afternoon throughout the summer.

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The rides across the river Severn cost 50p for a trip with all cash donated to Worcester charities. 

But it needs a dry and secure place to hibernate until next year.

For many years, the boat was housed at Shrub Hill Industrial Estate during winter but the space is no longer available. 

Being a decades-old wooden boat, it needs a high degree of maintenance which she cannot properly get if left out in the open during the winter months. 

Volunteers running the Cathedral Ferry felt if they did not find a proper place to store her in the winter months, Doris would eventually become unusable and effectively die. 

Doris left the water and was moved to her new home for the first time on Sunday (September 29). 

The Cathedral Ferry's dedicated team of volunteers will also be joined by four more people following the appeal.