THE owner of a boat which was destroyed by fire has been left homeless.

Essex University students and walkers on the Wivenhoe trail made numerous calls to the fire service after seeing smoke billowing from the two boats at Hythe, Colchester.

Four fire crews were sent to the scene on Sunday at about 4.15pm.

The fire was out by 5.15pm. Mark Rafferty, 40, was not on the boat at the time of the incident.

The self-employed builder had been carrying out work on the boat ever since he moved in back in January.

“It was lucky I wasn’t there,” he said.

“I was watching a film and decided to stay at my mum’s when my neighbour rang me.

“I am staying with my mum at the moment. It was shocking for it to happen, I am just glad I wasn’t there.”

Mr Rafferty has been living on boats for ten years and moved from Ipswich after costs to moor at the marina became too high.

He has lost all his work tools, clothes and personal belongings in the blaze. He expects it to cost around £800 to have the charred remains of the boat removed.

“The little boat–the speed boat – was to run up and down the river,” he said.

“The big boat was the house boat. I spent all year doing it up.

“I don’t know who it is or why it has happened.”

Mr Rafferty was expected to meet with fire bosses to discuss the blaze.

Anyone with information or who saw anything suspicious before or after the fire, is asked to call police on 101, quoting incident 717 of August 16, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.