A FISHERMAN was astonished after the Navy ‘boarded’ his stall - on dry land.


Terry Stimpson was selling his catch on The Hard, Brightlingsea, during the town regatta when officers from HMS Tyne inspected his fish.
 

An officer first asked to look in one of his boxes, before returning accompanied by colleagues with orders to carry out an inspection.
 

Mr Stimpson, of Tudor Green, Clacton, said he had been boarded at sea before and been inspected by fisheries officials when unloading his catch, but this was the first time he had been checked while selling his wares.


“It was quite a surprise, I didn’t know it could be called a boarding,” said Mr Stimpson, 51.
 

“This is the first time my catch has been inspected once it’s prepared and ready to sell.
 

“The whole thing smelt very fishy.”

 

Read more in tomorrow's Gazette.