THE boating community has rallied together to fund a bench in memory of Allen Green, who tragically died last year when his narrowboat got into difficulty and sank in Droitwich Junction Canal.

The bench will be unveiled in Vines Park, Droitwich, alongside the canal near where Mr Green lived in Netherwych Garden Basin, on Saturday, July 22 at 11am.

Worcester-Birmingham & Droitwich Canals Society (WBDCS) has paid for the bench to be installed through fundraising.

Recently the group, held a musical bingo event at The Gardeners Arms, in Droitwich, which raised almost £250.

The event, which was attended by Mr Green's mother Jean, a member of WBDCS, saw entrants play about six rounds of the game –which sees the host play songs rather than calling out numbers – at £1 per go.

WBDCS spokesman, Tony Brannon, said: "Our canal society was very happy to support Jean Green, Allen's mother, in raising funds for the placing of the memorial bench in Vines Park.

"The musical bingo night raised nearly £250 and along with donations from a fundraising website and also from the Worcester-Birmingham & Droitwich Canals Society enough money has been raised."

The 49-year-old managed to pull his elderly mother and dog to safety before dying in Lock 5 of the canal on Monday, July 25 2016.

The lock was drained and firefighters pulled Mr Green from the vessel, but despite lengthy resuscitation efforts he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Rescue workers say it could have taken as little as two minutes for the narrowboat to fill with water.

For more information about the society go to wbdcs.org.uk.