THIS week's launch of HMS Dauntless in Glasgow was almost scrapped due to a lack of water in the Clyde.

But thankfully the world's most advanced warship took to the river after workmen bailed out yard bosses by providing almost 200million extra gallons of water.

Glasgow's had record rainfalls for the last two months but, incredibly, the river still wasn't deep enough for the safe launch of the Type 45 destroyer at Govan on Tuesday. WATCH IT! Exclusive video of the launch at the Govan shipyard

Bosses at the BAE Systems yard had to make a frantic call to council staff who operate a tidal barrier upriver at Glasgow Green.

The call was made by BAE operations director Ian Pike not long before the historic launch ceremony as thousands of spectators were gathering on both banks of the river to see Dauntless come down the slipway.

Atmospheric conditions meant the river's levels were far too low until Robert Lochrie, a 56-year-old weir operator mimicked King Canute.

Undaunted, the worker closed three tidal gates, blocking the water as it flowed from the sea up- river into the city. By holding the tide back, levels downriver at Govan then rose by up 12in, and that fine margin allowed the historic Govan launch to go ahead safely.

It's thought the closed gates provided 200m gallons of extra water on a three-mile stretch from Glasgow Green to the yard.

Mr Lochrie, of Glasgow, said: "The tidal barrier is normally used to ensure that we do not get flooding in the city on very high tides but it is great that we are able to help out others.

"When we heard of the threat to the launch, we knew we could help."

Mr Pike admitted: "It was really touch and go just before the launch.

"But, with the help of Robert and the team at the Glasgow barrier, the water kept creeping up, eventually achieving the minimum level for a launch."

Mr Pike added: "I guess the team almost achieved the impossible by ensuring this fantastic ship took to the water on schedule."

Dauntless, the second of six Type 45 destroyers being built on the Clyde, cost more than £650m to build at Govan and its sister yard at Scotstoun.

The Govan yard had to scrap the launch of Cardigan Bay, a £60m troop carrier, on April 8, 2005, when gales kept tide levels too low.