An intrepid woman is shunning the traffic-snarled roads of the Black Country in favour of her own more serene way of getting about.

Despite never having constructed anything more ambitious than flatpack furniture in the past, Jane Ball, from Tipton, has woven her own coracle, which she now uses to float along the canals of Sandwell. Jane, who works as a funeral arranger at A & A Walters in Tipton, spent a weekend learning how to make the shallow, circular boat at a workshop in Ironbridge.

Now the 49-year-old enjoys nothing more than whiling away the long summer evenings drifting along the waterways close to her Castle Road home.

Jane said she thought she could be the only person in Sandwell to own a coracle, which were used as far back as pre-Roman times for fishing and transport.

“I can’t remember when I first decided I wanted to make my own coracle but when I found out about the workshop I just thought, why not?” she said.

“I was the only woman on the course.

“Some of the men had worked as carpenters but I’d only ever done an Ikea flatpack.

“I was quite confident it wouldn’t sink when I first tried it on the canal, it doesn’t leak but it is difficult to get in and out of so I need a bit of help.

“I don’t know if there is anyone else in Sandwell who has a coracle but if there is it would be nice to start a little regatta.”

The coracle was made by weaving ash laths together which are then covered with calico which is painted with tar to waterproof it.

In ancient times animal pelts were used instead of calico. Jane also made the paddle used to push the boat along the water.

She said the coracle, which is approximately 3ft 6ins by 4ft 6ins, often attracted a lot of attention as she cruised the canals.

“People do tend to do a double-take, it moves slower than walking pace but it’s very pleasant,” Jane added.