SEAL-watching trips from Southend Pier could be available from the summer if a former City worker achieves his dream.

Graham Manning, 51, wants to set up the trips because he has been made redundant three times since 2008.

The first time was from an insurance company, then from a driving job at Purfleet docks and finally from a credit control company in Hornchurch.

Now the dad-of-two is hoping to launch his own business running trips to watching seal colonies on the mudflats off Chalkwell.

Mr Manning, of St Lawrence Gardens, Eastwood, said: “Being the wrong side of 50, combined with the recession, I was resigned I wasn’t going to get another job in the City at my old salary.

“I knew I’d either have to get a local job or have a bright idea, and the seal watching is that bright idea.”

Keen sailor Mr Manning came up with the idea of the trips after a conversation with his brother Nigel, who heard visitors to the pier talking about the estuary’s seal colonies through his work as a volunteer at the RNLI shop.

Using some of his redundancy money, Mr Manning began to draw up a business plan and approached Southend Council about what he would need to set up the business.

Provided he gains a boatmaster’s licence from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and passes courses in fire and sea safety, Mr Manning hopes to be running trips by June.

He said: “Hopefully, I will be taking delivery of my new boat this week. She’s a 30ft fishing-type boat with plenty of seats. “I’ll be able to carry 12 passengers and it’s quite a comfy little boat.”

Mr Manning is looking forward to getting closer to nature, and has plans to expand the business to include trips to see migratory birds.

He said: “It’s crazy there is nothing like this at the end of the pier. Hopefully, this will help bring more people to the pier and into Southend.” Lynn Jones, resort services manager for Southend Council, said: “In principle, we would support his venture, but we have suggested to Mr Manning he carries out a feasibility study first to find out if such a venture is commercially viable.”