A HUNT has been launched to find the absentee owner of a decrepit boat which council bosses struggled to remove from the water.

The sunken vessel had been moored at Hythe Quay.

But Colchester Council bosses made the decision to remove it because of the damage it may cause to the environment and other wildlife.

An initial bid to remove it was scuppered when the crane moved into the quay was not powerful enough to lift the boat - possibly because of concrete inside the boat which could not be seen.

A dog walker who witnessed the attempt said: “They closed off the quay and brought this crane in but it was clearly too small.

“They hooked it all in but it just wouldn’t move.

“In the end they pushed it down the river with another glass bottomed boat.

“It was all set to go onto the back of a lorry but they could not get it shifted.”

A Colchester Council spokesman confirmed their initial attempt had failed, however a larger crane was waiting further down the River Colne.

A spokesman for Colchester Council said: “Working with the harbour master and other partners we took steps to remove a sunken 14 metre by four metre boat from Hythe Quay.

“Together with the harbour master and others we estimated the boat would weigh around five tonnes.

“It is good practice to ensure whenever work like this is undertaken there are a number of methods available as the removal of boats is not always as easy as they first appear.

“A 14 tonne crane was brought in to help lift the boat, but it became apparent it was heavier than had been estimated.

“This could be due to potentially being concrete on board which was not initially visible.

“In the end the crane was used to move the boat from the dip it was in to enable it to be pushed by another boat to Brightlingsea where a bigger crane will be used to remove it.

“Anyone with any information about the owner of the boat should contact our estates team.”

Call 01206 282222 with any information.