A BOAT has crashed and partly sunk in the River Ouse today.

Two men who were sailing the four-metre long boat, which was damaged in the Ouse at Selby, close to the Holme Lane estate, were not believed to have been injured in the incident.

Firefighter Stuart Pea said Selby's fire boat was launched from Cawood at 10am after the local lock-keeper raised the alarm.

He said: "We believe it had hit the bridge or rocks around the bridge and they have hit something quite hard and it's put a decent sized hole in the hull of the boat.

"It was 60 per cent submerged when we got there, and the two crew who were on board had managed to get to dry land. Nobody was injured."

York Marina posted on Facebook: "River Ouse is closed to navigation at Selby due to vessel striking Selby Toll Road Bridge and sinking. Please contact Lock Keeper at Naburn for more details as Lock will remain closed until Navigation is clear."

The Press understands the two men on the boat were aged in their fifties and had travelled from the Goole area in the direction of York, when the boat was damaged.

Firefighter Pea said the boat was likely to sink completely, but had been moored securely in place, and was awaiting a marine salvage team to remove it from the river.