A narrowboat company has been left adrift after vandals caused tens of thousands of damage in one night.

The thugs slashed the tops of two valuable narrowboats then torched another recently-restored vessel which was reduced to a blackened hulk.

"To say I was devastated would be an understatement," said owner Richard Hyde, who runs Cosgrove Narrowboat Company. "I have spent £20,000 restoring this boat over the past 18 months. It was every penny of my personal savings as well as money left to me by my mother when she died.

"Now it is all ruined – it is totally beyond repair."

The two narrowboats, hired out for corporate functions, will cost thousands to repair. Luckily they were both insured.

But Richard's pride and joy, an old Osprey Sea Harrier, was awaiting its first sea trial before it could be insured.

"It was just all ready for the trial. I was just waiting for the date," said Richard.

The vandals struck late at night, attacking the narrowboats on the towpath then moving into the yard to set fire to the Sea Harrier.

Richard said: "It could have been even worse. If the wind had been in the other direction then the fire would have spread to the lock cottage too."
N
orthants police have appealed for anyone who has any information about the attack, on Monday last week, to call them on 0845 3 700 700 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.