DOZENS of bargain boats have been given a new lease of life in an auction at Blackwater Marina in Mayland.

The event held earlier this month aimed to get people on the water.

Jay Zimrul, 41, is now a boat owner for the first time having bought a four-berth 17ft Leisure 17 sailing boat for £300.

The taxi cab company owner from Maldon said: “We’d been thinking of getting a boat for two to three years, but didn’t have the courage. The boats we were looking at all cost between two and three thousand pounds.”

Maylandsea’s Charles Froud, pictured, who bought a 21ft Vivacity sailing yacht for £150, said: “I haven’t sailed for more than 40 years, now I’ve got a project for my retirement.”

The auction also raised money for charities with £1,948 divided between West Mersea RNLI, Maldon Sea Cadets and GAIN.