A FATHER of three has been left high and dry after thieves waded across a river to steal his rare boat.

Keith Waldman and his family have been enjoying scenic boat rides along the Itchen Navigation during the past four months after buying the tiny coracle.

But they were shocked to find that their lightweight, bowl-shaped watercraft had been stolen from their back garden in Twyford Road, Eastleigh.

It is believed that the thief either sailed up the river or waded across the water, climbed up the riverbank and carried or sailed the boat, worth £150, away.

The boat is able to carry one person and is made from wood and bitumen. Coracle boats were designed centuries ago for use in the swift flowing streams of Wales.

Keith told the Daily Echo: "Of course I am upset about the boat being stolen but it is more the fact that the thief was so determined to steal it that they either waded across the river or sailed down to the bottom of my garden and climbed up the river bank.

"We used to have an electric fence at the bottom of our garden to stop deer but we didn't like the idea of having one so we took it down. After this I am definitely going to be putting it back up.

"My children, aged 16, 17 and 19, really enjoyed sailing up and down the river on it. It was the perfect vessel for the river because it is small and lightweight."

The theft happened between midday on July 22 and 10am on July 29 while the family was away.

A Hampshire Police spokesman said: "The boat was in the garden of the property, which backs onto the river. It is believed that the offender may have crossed the river before gaining access to the garden.'' Anyone with any information should contact the Volume Crime Unit at Lyndhurst police station on 0845 045 4545 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.