Police say the Nottingham Princess caught on scaffolding as it passed underneath the bridge on Friday evening.

High water levels and strong currents are being blamed for the accident.

The boat struck scaffolding being used by maintenance workers who are painting the bridge.

Ladders and planks

"The boat was on a pleasure cruise along the river when it appears the high level of the river pushed the boat into the bridge," a police spokesman said.

Passengers said plates and glasses fell to the floor and scaffolding smashed through at least one of the windows.

Around 20 firefighters, who had returned to work a few hours earlier from their strike picket lines, were called to carry out the rescue.

Passengers scrambled up ladders and over planks to leave the boat and some were lifted off by hydraulic platform.

British Waterways says an investigation into the accident will be carried out.