Photographers have snapped some brilliant images of the ship graveyard Purton Hulks in Berkeley over the last few years, a fantastic location for a day out in the sun.

Dan Rose, Nik Hill and Sue Cobb captured the rusting hulls and chains of purposely abandoned ships that were beached to reinforce the bank of the River Severn.

In 1909, the river bank in Purton collapsed, leaving the Gloucester and Sharpness canal open to erosion from the Severn’s strong currents.

The solution: to beach barges, trows and schooners on the bank and make holes in them, allowing the tides to deposit silt inside.

The process was slowly completed between 1909 and 1970, with most of the work taking place in the 50s.

To find Purton Hulks, travel along the A38 and take the turning singposted BreadStone Halmore– Purton.

Travel for 2 miles, take a right turning on the sharp left hand bend, signposted Purton.

As you enter the village of Purton, you can park in car park opposite the church