A charity sailing trust has had all five of its boats impounded after failing to pay its mooring fees for more than a year.

The Jersey Sailing Trust was due to auction off the boats on April 16 to pay the overdue fees, after its members failed to respond to an appeal for money.

But Jersey Harbour (pictured) has seized the vessels now, insisting that its actions were ‘proportionate and reasonable under the circumstances’.

Senator Paul Routier, who is the island’s assistant minister with responsibility for harbours, said the impoundings were a ‘last resort’, but he revealed that the dispute may soon be resolved.

He said: ‘Today I received an e-mail from a representative of the trust to say he had optimistic news for us that might be able to resolve the matter.’

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Picture courtesy of Jersey Tourism.