The drama at the canal near the town’s Gallery Square today brought fresh calls for action. 

Staff at The Wharf Bar saw a girl, believed to be about 11, go off a jetty.

It happened last Friday hours after the BMW was pulled out. The girl and driver are believed to have mistaken algae for grass.

Mark Hinton, Wharf Bar manager, said he called the girl’s parents, helped her get dry and then encouraged her to seek medical advice.

“She had been on the jetty and her friends said that she had just mistaken the algae for grass,” he said.

“We didn’t call the emergency services because she came back out quite quickly. She was just a bit wet.

The Express & Star has been inundated with calls  urging Walsall Council, although it is not responsible for the canal, and  British Waterways to act.

Resident Graham Payne said: “Over the last three years there have been at least three incidents to my knowledge with vehicles being driven into the canal at this location, probably by strangers to the town who are unaware of its existence.”

Walsall Council spokesman Tony Moran said: “We understand people’s concerns but British Waterways is responsible for the maintaining of the canal and of keeping it clear of algae.

“However we will do everything within our power to persuade British Waterways that this issue needs to be dealt with as soon as possible.” British Waterways is looking into the matter.

Click here to see the video of the BMW being hoisted out of the canal.