MYSTERY still surrounds the future of a distinctive barge moored off the coast of Leigh.

The houseboat, which featured on Channel 4 TV programme Grand Designs, has been in the Thames Estuary between Chalkwell and Leigh since the summer.

East London couple Chris Miller and Sze Liu Lai decided to build the house boat, called Medway Eco-Barge, to give them more space for a fraction of the price of a home on land.

The lights are sometimes on and the boat seems to have moved in the past few days, but there is no indication if it will be taken to a permanent home.

Lynn Jones, interim operations manager for resorts services at Southend Council, said: "As long as nobody is living there permanently, then there's no problem.

"My concern would be if it was causing a major hazard or there were people living there, but as far as I'm aware it doesn't have anyone living on it.

"When there were live shells on the beach last week we called the owner of the mooring to make sure there wasn't anyone living on it, because it was inside the exclusion zone, and there wasn't."

Peter Wexham, Lib Dem Southend councillor for Leigh, criticised the owners for leaving the houseboat in the estuary.

He said: "During the filming of the programme it was moved from boatyard to boatyard and wherever they went it was causing problems and they were told to clear off. At the last one, people were all complaining and they got fed up with it.

"Nobody appears to have asked the council if it can go there. It's just been stuck there."

Mr Wexham said residents have complained to him about the boat and asked how long it will stay there.

However, Southend Pier and foreshore office confirmed the mooring was paid for and it had received no complaints.

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