A rather unusual course has been held by British Waterways in a bid to encourage people to behave on canal towpaths, Narrowboat holidaymakers have been told.

Held on the banks of the Regent's Canal, the Victorian etiquette programme was relevant to walkers, cyclists, joggers, boaters and dog walkers, who all use the towpath for quite different purposes.

Towpath ranger Joseph Young commented: 'We are seeing an increase in the number of speeding cyclists, who seem to forget, or aren't aware, that pedestrians do have right of way.

'He explained that cyclists can often appear threatening to other path users, so efforts are being made to educate them of how to use the routes most effectively.

British Waterways is currently facing the prospect of a status change after reports suggested it may be one of the areas affected by the government's forthcoming spending review.

The organisation hopes it will be changed into a new civil society from a public corporation.