One of only three of its kind left, tugboat Brent, based at Maldon, has received recognition in a national register of important historic vessels.

The steam powered tug, was built in 1945 for the Admiralty. Brent did not see war service as she was completed after the end of hostilities and spent her working life tending barges, dredgers and grain elevators in the London Docks.

Ron Hall has owned her for 30 years and said: ''The inclusion in the national list was partly due to there only being three tugs of this class remaining out of the 183 launched."

He added inclusion in the list compiled by the National Historic Ships Committee supported by the National Maritime Museum contributed some measure of confidence in 30 years of ownership and that funding for renovation may also be easier to secure.

Ron Hall is pictured with the register certificate and tugboat Brent.

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