Young people who have bought residential canal boats after being priced out of the conventional property market have reacted with horror to news that they face costs almost doubling in five years.
Boat owners say their traditional way of life could be wiped leaving them homeless out if the Canal and River Trust presses ahead with plans to increasing prices to live off the grid by up to 75%.
This month the Trust hiked costs for boat licences with a new surcharge for 'continuous cruisers' who live on boats but do not have a home mooring where they stay for longer periods.