Visitors left disappointed by the cancellation of this weekend’s Dorset Boat Jumble are being invited to attend an event in Christchurch.

Christchurch police have stepped forward to welcome people to attend a Boat Jumble Sale at Stanpit Recreation Ground, on Easter Sunday, 31 March, from 11am to 4pm.

The event will be raising funds for the Maritime Volunteer Service and Christchurch Harbourwatch and coincides with a Marine Safety and Security Day.

PC Dave
Williams, secretary of Christchurch Harbour Watch, said: ‘Our event aims to raise much needed funds to support the patrol work of the
Christchurch Sailing Club security patrol and the Maritime Volunteer Service
(MVS).

‘Every penny raised will be ploughed back to allow their unpaid volunteer
security patrols to continue in 2013.’

Earlier this week, PBO reported that the Dorset Boat Jumble at Canford Park Arena had been cancelled after six Irish traveller families set up an illegal encampment on an arena access road on Saturday and organisers were told it would take seven to 14 day to clean and clear the site.

The
annual event, which regularly attracts 100 exhibitors and around 1,500
visitors, was due to take place this
Saturday 23 March.

Although the travellers moved off on Tuesday evening, organisers said it was too late to reverse the cancellation.

The team behind the Christchurch Boat Jumble Sale hope to attract some of the stallholders and visitors who had been planning to attend the event near Poole.

As well as the Boat Jumble, the Christchurch attraction will also offer a RIB
simulator which allows complete beginners to take a test drive on the safety
of land using computer programme simulation and the Coast Guard Incident
response vehicle.

An RNLI Sea Safety Officer and the local police will also be on hand to offer crime
prevention and marine safety advice.

A condition of entry for all traders is to allow police
stolen or lost checks to be carried out on all identifiable marine equipment,
this will mean that prospective purchasers can buy in the knowledge that the
items have not been reported lost or stolen to the Police

The Boat Jumble will be open to the public from 11am to 4pm, while sellers can access the site from 8am but must have all items in place by 10.30am. Boats on trailers and dinghies must be in place by 10am.

Event rates for commercial traders is £30 a pitch.

To find out more email christchurchtowncentresnt@dorset.pnn.police.uk