The River Waveney is to be dredged as part of a seven month project to improve the area.

The Broads Authority will be carrying out the work to boost navigation for boat users and improve the quality of the riverbanks.

Popular with Broads users due to its deep navigable channels, the river must be dredged to maintain waterway specifications as sediment accrues in places.

The scheduled dredging operations will begin between April and the end of July, with work taking place Monday to Friday on the inside of the river bends.

During this time, wherries will be active on the river, transporting sediment from their work stations to the disposal area located just west of the Old Railway Bridge.

The process should not affect public use of the footpath which forms part of the Beccles Marsh Trail.

The river will be open to boats at all times but the addition of pontoons with excavators will shorten the width of the channel.

Signage will be in place to direct vessels and make them aware of the presence of dredging operations.

Broads Authority Environment Officer Jonathan Cook said: 'Dredging work is always carried out in the interests of the people who enjoy the rivers and we hope that this dredging operation will cause as little inconvenience as possible to members of the public.

'By the end of October we predict the work will be finished and those people who use the Waveney rivers system will be able to enjoy an improved navigable channel.'