FOUR boats have been damaged by a fire in West Mersea.

A 10 metre yacht caught alight in the boat yard in Coast Road at 3.39am this morning.

The cause of the blaze is unknown and the fire service and Essex Police will carry out an investigation.

Three other boats were damaged by heat from the blaze.

Crews from Mersea and Colchester attended the scene.

Read the full story in tomorrow's Gazette.