'MY father is heartbroken. I can't believe someone would do this to his boat.'

Those are the words of Gemma Cox who said her father, Steve Cox, was 'devastated' when he discovered vandals had smashed up his boat, The Orca, on Bank Holiday Monday (May 6) while it was moored in a private pontoon on the River Brue between Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge.

Gemma, 39, said the vandals caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage to the boat and smashed the windscreens, windows, deployed a life raft and damaged a number of items on the boat.

She said: "We are absolutely devastated and heartbroken by what has happened to my dad's boat.

"It was moored in a private harbour in Burnham-on-Sea and we are really shocked that this has happened.

"My dad is heartbroken and devastated by what has happened.

"He has been a fisherman for years and has owned various boats but this boat was his pride and joy.

"My dad has owned boats since the 1980's but he bought this boat with his friend, Carin Daunton, and they are both devastated by what has happened."

Gemma said there is no CCTV on the private pontoon and appealed for anyone with information about the incident to speak to the police.

She said Steve has been left reeling from the incident and he plans to sell the boat after he has repaired the damage.

"It is heartbreaking. My dad has been so upset by this and said he intends to sell the boat after he has completed repairing it.

"If anyone who has a boat at the private pontoons has CCTV please send it in to the police.

"I would urge people to think about what they are doing before they do it as a lot of damage can be done."

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police, said they are investigating the incident.

"On Tuesday, May 7, we received a report a boat had been damaged in Highbridge," the spokesman said.

“A number of windows of the fishing charter boat had been smashed.

“Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 101 and provide the call handler with the reference 5219099822.”