BELGIAN officials fined a Southend boat owner 750 euros for using red diesel - even though it was bought legally and taxed in the UK.

John Williams, chairman of Thorpe Bay Yacht Club and a member of Wakering Yacht Club, was quizzed by customs officers last month.

He believes Belgium deliberately targets and fines UK boats for using red diesel because of an EU directive.

As a result, Southend West and Rochford MP James Duddridge wrote to the Belgian authorities and received a promise to discuss the policy.

Mr Williams said: “My wife and I were shocked by the shameful way the Belgian Customs treated what was a British family yacht on holiday.

“I am familiar with the Belgian view on red diesel and many of my sailing friends have avoided Belgium for many years now.

“I have not as it’s a great destination for the east coast yachtsman and I never believed the scare stories in the press about the red diesel problem until it happened to me.”

Tractors are the only vehicles allowed to use red diesel on UK roads, but boats are also allowed to use it. Brussels has long opposed the UK’s policy and Belgium does not allow the fuel to be used in its waters.

Belgium ambassador HE Rudolf Huygelen said the “discrepancy” will be discussed at the EU committee on excise duty because it “creates confusion amongst yacht owners and sailing clubs.” He added that the meeting will lead to a “common approach accepted by all member states involved”.

Mr Williams said he would like to publicly thanks Mr Duddridge for his intervention. He said: “My wife and I were really upset by the way we were treated by the Belgian Customs.”

Mr Duddridge said: “I welcome the common sense approach news that boat owners will not be caught up and treated as criminals whilst obeying UK laws on the use of boat fuel.”

“I was pleased to be informed that Belgian authorities will re-evaluate their position given the confusion brought on by varied interpretations of the European Union directives on the use of red diesel.”