A COURT heard of the dramatic scenes when a pleasure boat filled with partygoers capsized on the River Severn, resulting in a woman's death.

Passenger, Jane Turner, was trapped inside the 23ft cruiser, Sweetie Pie, and drowned.

Boat owners, Ruth Pearson, 39, and Janice Ward, 42, and Ward's then partner, Tom Prescot, 48 - who was helmsman - are charged with manslaughter.

Witness, Tony Hind, told Birmingham Crown Court what he saw as their boat approached his, after the Stourport land and river carnival on September 6, 2003.

He said Sweetie Pie "flipped" on to its side, causing a loud crashing sound and throwing people overboard. The boat then returned to its upright position.

He dragged one woman on to his boat and five or six people tried to pull themselves back on to the stern. "A lot of people were shouting," he said. "They were pulling the boat down and it started to take on water."

The cruiser initially began to sink stern-end first but then turned on to its port side.

The prosecution argues that the accident, leaving 45-year-old Mrs Turner, from Solihull, trapped in the cabin to drown, happened because the boat was overloaded.

Raymond Lovatt, a former owner of the Sweetie Pie, told the court that during the short period he owned it he had a maximum of six adults and two children on board.

Under cross-examination, he accepted there were no signs on the boat or manufacturers' guidance as to the maximum number allowed on board.

Amanda Alsop, who worked with Ruth Pearson, said she did not want to board the boat because she thought there were "too many" people on it.

Alan Stanley, of the Severn Area Rescue Association - SARA - said he was in a three-man team patrolling the river on the day.

He received a call in the evening to check out the Sweetie Pie, which was reported as being overloaded. He told the court the boat "did not appear to be dangerously low" in the water.

Mr Stanley - who was acquainted with the defendants - said when his vessel came alongside Sweetie Pie he called out: "Excuse me skipper, don't you think you are a bit overloaded?"

Prescot replied: "Alan, why don't you go have a pint at Bewdley," the court was told. Mr Stanley said that this reply meant that Prescot had taken note of his concern.

Pearson, of St George's Terrace, Kidderminster, Prescot, of George Street, Kidderminster, and Ward, of Worcester Road, Stourport, all deny manslaughter.