Calstock passenger ferry crossing River Tamar returns after a decade
The crossing will now be powered solely by the sun for all crossings
One of the oldest passenger ferry services - the Calstock Ferry service - is set to return to the River Tamar.
The crossing served as an important link between Calstock in Cornwall and Devon - and the rest of the country - for several hundred years.
With a history dating back to Saxon times, the crossing became an important hub for trade and commerce - particularly during the 19th century.
However, in 2015, the service came to an end due to tidal and access issues, but a new, electric boat is now set to return to the waterway to resume the crossing.
A one-year trial is set to take place on the river to assess whether a more permanent service would be commercially and financially viable.
The first trips are set to take off from Thursday (May 22nd) and will run for the next year, with the help of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The new system will now be powered entirely by solar energy in what is now believed to be the UK's first zero-emissions passenger ferry service.
The ferry will be able to carry up to seven passengers, and allow the likes of pedestrians, cyclists and families with prams, though vehicles will be unable to travel over the river.
Speaking on the launch of the scheme, Will Mattos, who is captaining the boat said: "It’s a real honour to take the helm of the Calstock Ferry and be part of a tradition that stretches back hundreds of years.
"I’ve spent much of my life on the Tamar, and it means a lot to continue the work of the many skippers who’ve ferried people across this river before me. I’m looking forward to sharing the river with passengers – its history, its wildlife, and its quiet beauty."