The Vole -- Stiff gates

AV is getting a large number of calls from boaters unable to operate lock gates that are too stiff. Ivor Wrench Engineering denied there was anything wrong with the way the gates were fitted. However, On one of the rare occasions when Ivor was "on site" he was challenge by a formidable looking female boater to "you shut that sodin gate then smart-arse".

There followed a highly embarrassing incident where it took Ivor and another AV employee to close one of the offending bottom gates whilst the woman closed the other on her own! The laughter was heard at the next lock and it would seem a "Bastard boater" photographed the whole episode and posted the pictures on the net.

Behind the scenes AV is contacting ex-BW employees to see if anyone knows how to hang lock gates properly. It seems a long shot as BW sub contracted the work years before privatisation and some observers contend that's when the problems began.