The arrival of Maidstone's new floating restaurant was delayed today when the vessel proved too large to pass under Maidstone bridge - by just three inches.

The converted barge made the journey up river from Allington without too much hardship but couldn't make the final 100 yards to its new mooring on the Medway outside the Archbishops' Palace.

The boat had to be hastily tied up alongside the riverbank, while the owners sent for more ballast to make it sit lower in the river.

Owner James Bailey was undeterred. "We'll make it eventually," he said.