POLICE have stepped up patrols after 20 boats were destroyed in a suspected arson attack in Old Leigh.

The blaze, which was spotted at about 1.30am yesterday morning, has caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage at Essex Yacht Club, in Leigh.

The fibreglass dinghies were stored on wooden racks on the club’s jetty and most of them were vapourised by the flames. About ten others were badly damaged.

An aluminium-cased shed containing sails and clothing, was also destroyed.

Shocked and devastated yacht club members gathered yesterday morning to survey the charred wreckage, some of them having lost thousands of pounds of property.

Barry Barnes, the commodore of the club, said the cost of putting right the damage could be a six-figure sum.

He added: “I’ve just been hearing some heart-rending stories from youngsters who have saved up for two or three years to buy a boat.

“And now they’re all melted.

“This could mean the yacht club can’t function any more.

“If we can’t get insurance or improve security, we aren’t sure where we can turn. Members are obviously very sad and angry. But there is nowhere to vent that anger.”

He said there was previous vandalism at the club in December last year when boat covers were slashed and paint was thrown everywhere. A nearby shelter was set alight in recent weeks.

Assistant divisional officer Steve Reynolds, the fire officer in charge of crews during the latest blaze, said it was being recorded as deliberate.

Firefighters from Leigh, Southend and Hadleigh spent about an hour and a half fighting the fire, the cause of which is also being investigated by police.

They stopped the blaze from spreading and, alongside two helpful members of the public, managed to save a number of boats from the flames by hauling them away.

Leigh fire crew manager Kevin Wheeler, the initial officer in charge, said they were first called by someone on the last c2c train travelling back from London.

He said: “There was quite a lot of smoke and flames when we arrived. We had difficulty gaining access, but once we got there we extinguished the fire very quickly. Fortunately, there wasn’t much damage to the promenade area.”

Det Sgt Julie Gower said: “This is selfish mindless damage and will have an impact on those people who had their property destroyed.

“We are very keen to apprehend those responsible for this.”

Anyone with information, especially witnesses along the Cinder Path between Bell Wharf and Chalkwell or c2c passengers, should call Leigh CID on 0300 3334444, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.