A BOAT builder has offered to rescue a traditional boat repair yard and open it up to the public.

Don Ladell wants to preserve the Sea King yard in Leigh Old Town as a boat-building site, where visitors can see how the industry works.

However, the lease for the site is currently held by Boatyard restaurant owner John Cross, who wants to transform it into an up-market Claridges-style tearoom.

Mr Ladell, of Barbour Green, Wickford, said: "I think it would be a great shame to see it disappear. A lot of people want something to do with it but no one knows where to go."

Mr Cross said he believed boat-building was no longer plausible at Sea King because it was so small and could not serve large trawlers.

He added the area was already well served by Mike's Boatyard and Leigh Marina and there was not enough work to sustain another.

But Mr Ladell, who owns AH yachts, which builds boats on Canvey, insists this is not the case.

The 24-year-old, who is originally from South Africa, said: "The whole thing with Sea King boatyard was it was there to build classic boats, never to refurbish trawlers.

"The advantage of the Sea King is you can launch a boat straight from there. It is one of the only places left - if not the only - for that.

"There is a company in Burton called Dragon and they can't build enough. A small wooden boat can cost £100,000.

"Saying there is no market in it is absolute rubbish."

He added: "Whenever you go into Leigh, there is always some new bar. It would be nice to have something a bit more traditional. This is more of a personal project for me. I've been involved with boats all my life."

Mr Ladell approached Southend Council about the lease but said his enquiries had so far come to a "dead end".

Peter Wexham, a Southend Liberal Democrat councillor representing Leigh, said he had received phone calls from Mr Ladell and two other boat builders who were keen to take over the site.

He said: "I'm glad Mr Ladell has come forward and I'm taking his idea forward with the council.

"There are now other people who want it for marine use, which kills the view that marine use is no longer viable stone dead.

"We have been losing the trades in the old town for years. We need to keep what we have got and encourage more.

"There are enough pubs and bars but not many boat builders."