AN ONLINE campaign to bring the Royal Iris back to the Mersey was launched after the perilous state of the much-loved former Mersey ferry was revealed.

Now berthed on the River Thames, the Royal Iris was found by the RNLI flooded during high tide, with photographs revealing the poor state of the vessel.

Photographer Dave Wood has set up the petition, which he plans to present to the owner in a bid to convince him to sell the vessel so that it can be returned to the Mersey.

Mr Wood, who was born and brought up in Liverpool and now lives in Luton, has visited the boat numerous times since he learned it was on the Thames.

He said: “When I heard the Royal Iris was in London, back in 2002, I remembered the ferry from when I was a kid and thought I’d go down and take a look at it.”

Mr Wood said: “It has to be sorted out soon, and that’s why I set up the petition. Hopefully people who want to see the boat brought back will sign it and I’ll present it to the owner and maybe even Greenwich Council to see if something can be done about bringing it back to the Mersey.”

Last month, a businessman from Wirral revealed he is in negotiations with the owner of the Royal Iris to buy the much-loved historic former ferry.

THE online petition is at www.RoyalIris.co.uk