Two Boats Crash on the River Thames

A tourist boat has crashed into a barge on the Thames, leaving seven passengers with minor injuries.

The Millennium Time, which can carry 340 people, collided with a cargo vessel near Waterloo Bridge and the Oxo Tower this afternoon.

Emergency services, including the police, fire and coastguard were called to rescue passengers who were led away from the boat after the accident.

A spokeswoman for City Cruises, which operates the tourist boat, said: "Today at 2.25pm the Millennium Time - part of City Cruises' sightseeing fleet - made contact with a commercial vessel while sailing by Coin Street on the River Thames.

"Seven minor injuries have been reported, none of whom were hospitalised.

"All other passengers were guided off the boat promptly by City Cruises, who continue to do everything they can to support the authorities and those involved in the incident.

"Investigations are ongoing and more information will follow pending its conclusion.

"The Millennium Time will return to Cherry Garden Pier for repair and all other City Cruises services are running as usual."

Scotland Yard said that neither boat was at risk of sinking, and that it was too early to speculate on the cause of the crash.

Photographs posted on Twitter showed shattered windows at the front of the sightseeing boat, with fragments of glass scattered inside.

The Waterloo duty station for London Ambulance Service, Christine Masson, said: "We treated six patients at the scene for a range of minor injuries. We treated a teenage boy for a graze to his leg and another boy for shock.

"We also treated two women for neck pain, one reported to be in her seventies and one reported to be in her thirties. We treated another woman, reported to be in her fifties, for knee pain.

"No patients were taken to hospital."

The London Fire Brigade also sent its boat to the scene of the crash.

A spokeswoman said: "The fire boat has been called to reports of a collision between two boats on the Thames near Waterloo Bridge. Firefighters are assisting the police and the RNLI at the scene."