Following the illegal mooring of a “slumboat” along the Thames in West Molesey for more than six months, the Environment Agency has announced it will be imposing fines for overstays in free 24-hour mooring sites.

Neighbours at Sadler’s Ride dubbed the four-bedroom vessel a “slumboat”, following a rise in reports of human and canine excrement along the towpath next to its mooring.

Fellow boat owner Jill Sanders complained: “People who have their own boats can’t stop anywhere all up the river.

”We just want a resolution to this illegally moored boat.”

A successful pilot scheme introduced last year by the Environment Agency at four of its sites saw a large decrease in the number of complaints received about inconsiderate boaters staying beyond their allotted time.

Car park-style enforcement will now be introduced at all of its 22 mooring sites.

A spokesman for the agency said: “New mooring conditions will mean that more people can enjoy the many benefits that short-term mooring sites bring to not only boaters, but also the wider community.”

Do you have a boat on the Thames? Have you had any problems with fellow boaters flouting Environment Agency rules? Call the newsdesk on 020 8722 6313 or email rachel.dickerson@london.newsquest.co.uk