Quick thinking volunteers thwarted vandals who threatened the closure of the River Lee.

Stonebridge Lock, one of the few automated locks on London waterways, had buttons on its control pad gouged out on Friday.

The damage could have led to the river being closed, but volunteer lock keepers from the Canal & River Trust, which looks after waterways across the country, sprang into action and carried out work to ensure the lock can be kept open while repairs to the control pad are undertaken.

The damage is likely to cost the trust hundreds of pounds to repair.

Rick Jones, Canal & River Trust customer operations supervisor, said: “To say we’re frustrated by the vandalism is putting it mildly.

“It’s pretty blatant and we’re doing what we can to find out who did it.

“In the meantime our priority is make sure we can keep the river open for boats. We’re so grateful to our volunteer lock keepers for stepping into the breach. Without them boat traffic on this stretch would be at a standstill.”