One of Leigh's marine landmarks will be towed away at the end of the month to become a floating restaurant.

The Bembridge has acted as Essex Yacht Club's headquarters for the past 27 years on a spot between Leigh and Chalkwell.

But time and tide wait for no man - or ship - and the vessel will be taken up the river Medway, where it will be turned into a bar and restaurant.

Originally the Bembridge was to be sold to a private buyer who wanted to turn it into a houseboat, but the deal fell through.

Her place in Leigh will be taken on August bank holiday by a newly refitted HMS Wilton, a 450-tonne minehunter which is also the world's largest plastic ship.

The Wilton was built without metal so as not to set off mines and is known unofficially and affectionately as "HMS Tupperware" or "the plastic duck".

She has spent the past year sitting by the shore of the Roach on a Rochford industrial estate.

Essex Yacht Club has financed a refit, with volunteers working for more than two years to transform the Wilton into their new headquarters.

Commodore Peter Brooker, chairman of the club, said: "It has been a very interesting project, although we still have work to do. It is the ultimate DIY project."

HMS Wilton needs to be brought to Leigh while tide and weather conditions are favourable.

If she is not brought at the right time, yacht club members will have to wait until April or May next year.

Published Wednesday August 4, 2004

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