IN A corner of Herefordshire, three men are adamant to keep alive the traditional coracles once used for fishing along Britain's river.

Most common in Wales, coracles are small boats typically made with ash woven together, before being covered with some kind of skin and painted with bitumen paint.

More recently, boats have been made from fibre-glass, but one man who often takes to Herefordshire's rivers argues they are not "proper coracles".

Richard Taylor, 52, self-titled experienced traditional coracle maker and international coracle traveller, is part of a group calling themselves The Coracle Guys.

Peter Faulkner and Conwy Richards make up the trio, which can be spotted on the River Teme near Leintwardine.

"I first got into coracle making though survival skills, bushcraft etcetera," Mr Taylor said, who travels to use his coracles in north Herefordshire from Lincolnshire.

"I've been to Norway in the Arctic Circle with the coracles, I've done the channel, as well as the rivers Teme, Severn, Wye and Thames.

"I now just paddle and watch the wildlife. I've seen Kingfishers, otters and whales. They're a good leisure craft, but originally they were for fishing and transport."

Peter Faulkner, 76, from Leintwardine, uses locally coppiced hazel for his vessels, which isn't treated before being used to form the frame.

Now the president of the Coracle Society, which aims to promote the use and history of the craft.