Work began this week on repairing Dartmouth's main public slipway which is vitally important to all the town's boating clubs, marine businesses and the lifeboat.

But it will remain closed to vehicles until June 1 when the repair job is expected to be completed.

In the meantime, while the work is not going on, the public will still be able to access the slipway – but only at their own risk, council bosses said.

The lifeboat is now faced with launching off the Higher Ferry slipway and getting the lifeboat over the ferry cables – which could add vital minutes to the launch times

Some river users have reacted with fury over the restrictions which have been forced on South Hams Council after part of its slipway began breaking up.

The slipway, alongside the Higher Ferry, should have been rebuilt a year ago but the £400,000 project was put on hold and then shelved.

Dartmouth Gig Club chairman Kevin Pyne said the closure of the public slipway was a 'catastrophe' for river users and he condemned the state of the slipway as a 'an avoidable and foreseeable nightmare'.

He accused the council of allowing the slipway to fall in to 'disrepair' and not even realising 'what valuable feature it is for the town'. He added: 'It is negligence and lack of forethought that has allowed this to happen.'

Harbourmaster Rob Giles said the council had 'moved as fast as it could' to repair the old slipway and get it back into use.

And he stressed its importance to Dartmouth, explaining: 'It's the only public access for launching the recovering small boats on the Dartmouth side of the river. It is also used by the lifeboat.'

The slipway was closed last week after it was declared too dangerous to use as holes appeared in its surface.

Work to repair the slipway began on Wednesday. It involves the southern elevation of the slipway being reinforced in concrete along with repairs to holes inside the structure.

When work is not taking place, people will be able to access the slipway at their own risk.

Hilary Bastone, who is South Hams Council's executive councillor responsible for the slipway, said: 'The state of the public slipway only came to light very recently and we have acted swiftly to organise this programme of works. I appreciate that it is frustrating for the people who use this facility but we will aim to complete the repairs as quickly as possible."

The slipway is the launching point for the Dart Inshore Lifeboat which is housed in the lifeboat station about 100 yards away on Coronation Park.

Boat owners and marine businesses are being offered alternative launching facilities while work is continuing to repair the town's public slipway.

South Hams Council has come to an agreement with Blackness Marine at Higher Dittisham for people to be able to use its large slipway facilities while the work continues.