A DRIVER who abandoned a car after it crashed on a towpath and became impaled on canal barriers, has been labelled a 'mindless idiot'.

The car had to be cut away from the motorcyle barriers causing £2,500 damage after the vehicle crashed last Tuesday on the towpath near the A40 Western Avenue, Northolt.

It is the second time a car has been driven on to the towpath. Earlier this month a car ended up in the canal and police divers were called in to search the area.

British Waterways was alerted to the latest incident at about 8am.

The car was left abandoned, stuck on the barriers, by its occupants and the barriers had to be cut away by firemen.

Replacing them will cost British Waterways more than £2,500.

Graham Smith, waterways supervisor, said: "British Waterways staff work very hard to secure funding to improve London's canals and it is a few mindless idiots who ruin it for the majority.

"The emergency services and waterways staff have far better things to do then to clear up after this.

"It is quite sad that these people, who probably live in the area, have no respect for the canal. The canal is there for everyone to enjoy and people should respect it and not destroy it."

British Waterways believe the car was driven on to the towpath through wasteland and the occupants abandoned the car when it became stuck on the barrier.

Police have so far been unable to confirm whether or not the car was stolen.

Mr Smith added: "We would ask members of the local community to keep the canal areas safe. We would also encourage people to become canal wardens to help preserve London's canals."

If anybody would like to be a canal warden they can contact British Waterways on 020 8571 8900