Plans to introduce controversial overnight mooring fees at a Broads village have been dropped, just days before they set to come into force.

The £3 charge was due to be brought in at Reedham next month but the authorities behind the plans have announced today that the scheme has been scrapped.

Businesses and residents had strongly rejected the plans amid fears the fees would put off holidaymakers and voiced their concerns at several meetings.

And the Broads Authority, which owns the quay with Broadland District Council, says it has listened to their anxieties and taken the decision to drop the charge.

The authorities were jointly behind the plans and had proposed to bring in the £3 fee to help pay for ranger services under the terms of a new lease.

John Packman, chief executive of the Broads Authority, said: 'We are very conscious of how important tourism in the Broads is to the local economy and that the hire boat industry is in a fragile state. The meeting in Reedham was the second of our Parish Forums and provided an excellent opportunity to engage with local people.

'The financial contribution from the proposed mooring fees to the cost of providing a ranger at this site would have been relatively modest and having heard the views of local residents the authority has decided to retain the existing arrangements at the quay.'

A ranger has been employed at Reedham Quay for 30 years to safeguard boaters mooring at a particularly tidal stretch of river close to the railway swing bridge.

A ranger is now on duty for the summer season to welcome boaters, help them moor and assist with information at the quay.