HARBOUR chiefs could be hit by a £10,000 bill to replace a navigation post which was badly damaged in a hit-and-run crash.

Lymington Harbour Commissioners are appealing for help to find who was responsible for the incident involving a cross boom navigation post.

A crash involving a vessel snapped the beacon on the port side of the channel near the harbour entrance between 11.15am and 12.15pm on Friday, June 25.

Footage from the Isle of Wight ferry has allowed officials to narrow down the time frame of the incident.

A notice from harbour master Ryan Willegers said there is impact damage on the post above the waterline together with blue paint, believed to be antifoul.

The crash, which is likely to have caused significant damage to the vessel, has not been reported, in contravention of the Harbour General Directions.

Mr Willegers told the Daily Echo: "We are trying to find out who did it.

"It is a substantial bill in the region of £10,000 to replace it.

"While we are insured, it is going to put our premiums up, which in turn everyone else will have to pay for.

"From past experience, it is very likely that it would have been a very big boat that would have done this sort of damage.

"Our investigations are ongoing to try and see if we can identify some big boat movements."

From the angle of the post and the location of the damage, it is likely that the collision involved an outbound vessel, Mr Willegers said.

The post has been removed and a temporary port navigation buoy has replaced it.

Mr Willegers said the harbour commissioners have powers to prosecute any guilty party, which he would not rule out at this stage.

"There is a general direction requirement for all incidents to be reported within 24 hours," he added.

"We have the ability to prosecute but each case is taken on its merits."

Anyone with information about the incident should contact the harbour office on 01590 672014.