A sailing club has been left up the creek after their boat was set adrift causing hundreds of pounds of damage.

The Burnham Coastal Rowing Club had their boat High Spirit let loose from the end of the Royal Burnham Yacht Club pontoon.

The incident happened between 5pm and 10pm on Remembrance Sunday.

There were also reports of other boats moored at pontoons let floating offshore and life rings from the town pier thrown in the water.

Club chairman Dawn Wood was informed of the vandalism when a club member spotted the boat banked on the mud near the quayside café at 8am the next morning.

She described those responsible as “mindless idiots” and was left fuming.

Ms Wood said: “I’m absolutely gutted.

“Luckily it washed up, so we have it back. Sadly, it has sustained damage which we now need to fundraise for the repairs.

“After inspecting our boat, we are lucky not to have sustained more damage than we have.

“We’re a little community club who work hard to raise the money needed to buy essential equipment and then people do something like this.”

The damage to the boat will cost hundreds of pounds to fix.

She added:“It appears at this stage to be scratches on the hull from where it washed up on the rocks.

“Although the damage does not look too bad, it needs repairing as a matter of urgency.

“Any damage to the gel coat will let in water to the structure of the boat potentially making the situation worse.

“We estimate the cost of repairs to come to £200.

“However, we are hoping that within the club we should have enough skilled volunteers to carry out the work needed at minimal cost.”

“It’s heartbreaking that some people have such little respect for others.

“It is just mindless, and they aren’t gaining anything.

“These are lifesaving bits of kit, what would possess someone to risk the lives of others.”

Essex Police said no arrests have been made.

A spokesman for the force said: “It was reported that a rowing boat had been damaged whilst moored at the Royal Burnham Yacht Club in Burnham between 5pm and 10pm on Sunday, November 11.

“The boat is believed to have been untied from the pontoon and the life rings were found in the water having been removed from the boat.

“The boat’s hull had also been damaged.”

Anyone who has information about the incident is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference 42/165402/18.