AS the River Lyd makes it way through the centre of Lydney it may not seem to the layman that it has much to do with sailing.

But a lack of water in the river had a major impact on Lydney Yacht Club's main event of the year with the Environment Agency slapping a ban on boats coming into the town's harbour.

With water leaking out of the harbour's outer gates faster than it was being replenished by the Lyd, the agency was concerned that at low tide large yachts could dry out and capsize.

Yachts were prohibited from entering the harbour from Friday, just 24 hours before 50 visiting boats were due to moor to the sound of a brass band.

The club's commodore, Paul Hayes, said: "There is a problem with the gates leaking but normally the water from the Lyd disguises the problem.

"With the dry spell we've had over the last month levels in the Lyd have dropped dramatically and this led to the closure of the harbour before our biggest event of the year."

Yachts come all across the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel with crews joining members of the Lydney club for an evening function.

Despite the ban on visiting yachts, members of the Lydney club decorated their boats and there were many stalls and entertainment in the harbour.

There was also an exhibition, called Sabrina Dreaming, in two of the harbour buildings of film, recorded voices and photographs by Severn Estuary artist-in-residence Antony Lyons.