THERE were fears for the safety of one of Watchet’s best-loved characters this week when the dredger Endeavour, owned by former marina owner Tim Taylor, tipped over on the town’s slipway spilling the contents of its diesel tanks into the harbour.

Boat-owners were concerned that the polluted water would harm marina mascot Derek the goose, who has lived among the moored boats since being blown into the harbour by a storm in 2010 and has been fed and looked after by the marina community ever since.

The dredger, which has been up for sale since the marina changed hands in March, developed a leak and was put on the slipway until it could be repaired. It was sunk by last Friday’s tide, one of the highest of the year, swept over a low wall and onto the narrow beach below.

A boat-owner said: “We were worried about Derek – who happens to be female – but although she didn’t seem to be affected by the diesel spill, she was obviously put out by the boat being stuck on the slip, which is one of her favourite places at low tide, and keeps giving it a disapproving glare.

“The dredger was righted on Sunday by a digger but it looks as though Derek won’t be happy until the thing has gone for good.”