Holidaymakers cause mayhem on River Stour after hiring boats from Quay Leisure Boat Hire in Christchurch

HOLIDAYMAKERS caused mayhem in Christchurch when they crashed hire boats into other vessels on the River Stour and knocked paddleboarders into the water.

The group had rented the boats from Quay Leisure Boat Hire around 3pm on Sunday, but within 15 minutes director of the company Nick May was receiving panicked phones calls from people saying they were behaving "dangerously".

“We were getting dozens of calls and I believe the police were also contacted," said Mr May. "The families in the boats were acting totally inresponsibly, particularly given there were young children with them – even a baby.

“The drivers were doing doughnuts in them, then crashing into other vessels, causing damage. Loads of paddleboarders reported being deliberately hit by these people and thrown off into the river.

“What these people were doing on the river was really dangerous; it is a wonder no one was seriously hurt.”

Mr May claimed one boat owner was threatened by someone within the group when he tried to protect a group of paddleboarders.

“He had got in front of them in an attempt to keep them safe, and a man from one of my boats began acting really aggressively towards him," said Mr May.

After being alerted to the group's behaviour, he called 999 before going out with employees to try to find them.

“When we caught up with one boat, the man in it drove it to the bank by the Captains Club hotel, got out, then put the boat into gear and kicked it out into the middle of the river," continued Mr May.

“It was out of control going round and round. I believe a man on the riverbank jumped in to help my crew member get it back.”

Mr May said one of his team, a 17-year-old, was pushed into the river by an individual from the group.

“Two of the boats returned to our pontoon and the people in them were being so aggressive I was worried about the safety of other people arriving at it," he said.

Mr May said the four boats were rented by women with children who provided ID. But he added: “They then picked up several men from the riverbank, some of whom had obviously been drinking.

“We do not rent boats to anyone we believe has been drinking.”

He has run the business for 15 years and says the damage to his boats will be around £500. He said: “I don’t know how much was caused to other vessels yet, but I’m sure there was some.”

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “We received a report at 3.40pm on Sunday 13th June of an out-of-control boat that was causing a danger to other watercraft in the area of Christchurch Quay.

“It was reported that damage was caused to two other boats and a member of the public was assaulted. Police liaised with the coastguard, who attended the scene and enquiries into the matter are ongoing. No arrests have been made.”