CANOE hire firms have been urged to work together to prevent a repeat of the tragic drowning of nine-year-old Billie Clayton in the River Wye.

Billie, from Yorkshire, drowned near Glasbury in April 2006 after a canoe, also carrying her twin brother, struck a tree and overturned in fast-running water.

The family was the first customers of Hay Canoes, which was not a member of the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) or any similar body.

At last week’s inquest in Welshpool, Powys Coroner Peter Maddox recorded a verdict of death by misadventure and called for a review of rules governing canoe hire on rivers, describing the present system as “too relaxed and potentially confusing”.

Billie’s father, Ian Clayton, said the industry was “shambolic” and “stupidly unregulated” – views echoed by Hayon- Wye river tenant, Michael Marks.

“We have witnessed many accidents over the years, and I have been in a position to pull several people from the water who were in difficulties,” he said.

“It amazes me that there seems to be no regulation of these activities on the river – the only real surprise about this terrible accident is that it hasn’t happened sooner.”

Another two tenants, Sid and Grace Hockley, claimed there were not enough warnings about the Wye’s unpredictable nature.

“Anyone who spends time near the river knows that this particular length is forever changing and differs enormously from one year to the next,” said the pair. “It is such a tragedy that a young girl should lose her life when this could have been avoided.”

Peter Haines, who ran a firm near Fownhope for five years, believed canoe-hire firms in Herefordshire could learn from the tragedy. While some safety accreditation existed – canoeists could look for BCU (British Canoe Union) or AALA registration – he believed firms should draw up their own guidelines.

“Two years ago I tried to persuade my colleagues to come up with a regulated standard of equipment and competency,”

he said.

“At the moment It’s not regulated, and companies should be getting together themselves and working out various policies.”

The BCU, while calling the tragedy unfortunate and rare, said canoeing boasted an excellent safety record. It added the pursuit was “only as a safe as the participant makes it” and warned licensing may not be the answer.

“It is impossible to conclude that such a system, if it existed, would have prevented the incident on the Wye,” said the BCU in a statement. “As well as hiring equipment, participants have choice and can obtain instruction from a suitably qualified coach or centre, and there are numerous centres on the Wye and in the Hay-on-Wye area.”

Wye Pursuits, based near Ross-on- Wye, is one of dozens of firms in Herefordshire and Powys with BCU accreditation. Director Guy Smith said his centre also met AALA regulations and took safety very seriously.

“Hiring is a general part of our business and we carry out risk assessments and safety checks regularly,” he said.

“The AALA is an assurance of a certain standard and I think we’ve done the right thing in getting that.”

And according to Richard Morley, of Hereford County Canoe Club, canoeists should not be frightened of the water.

“The Wye is very well used and I’ve been using it for 40 odd years – I would not classify it as a dangerous river.”