A new self-service kiosk offering 24-hour kayak hire could lead to drunken drownings in a harbour, it is feared.

The Port of Dover has launched the facility on the seafront in a bid to make water sports “more accessible”.

Users book and pay online and can go out in the harbour day or night, sparking fears of incidents in the water.

Bosses stress the area is monitored by officers from Dover Harbour Board who look out for “anything out of the ordinary”.

But residents say the around-the-clock availability of the kayaks, provided by Swedish company Kayakomat, should be reviewed.

Kye Clarke, who lives in the town, fears there “could be a risk of someone drunk drowning”.

"There should be set hours for using the kayaks, maybe from 9am to 8pm rather than 24 hours,” he said.

"This is a port and if you take a kayak near the ferries there is a risk, especially if you don't know what you're doing.

"I wonder if people should have a certificate to use them."

By booking in advance, users receive a code allowing them to unlock a paddleboard or kayak, along with an oar and lifejacket.

The cost to hire a stand-up paddleboard for an hour starts from £14. Two-hour kayak hires start at £29, and users must be over 18 unless accompanied by an adult.

But an experienced kayaker told KentOnline that people need to be supervised.

“The local watersports centre limits where users go in the water, but nobody is policing these kayaks,” she said.

“Shouldn’t there be some kind of supervision? People could use them when they are drunk and ultimately someone could drown.

“If they capsize in the water it is very hard to get back upright and they could also lose a paddle.”

Despite the concerns, other residents say they support the idea, which is the first of its kind in the UK.

Clare Coburn, who works at Riverside Catering ice cream kiosk next to the kayak station, says “everything is a risk and people cross the road when they're drunk”.

“You have to pay to use the kayaks so that would make people think…”

"I think it's a good idea and you do get a life jacket,” she said.

"You have to pay to use the kayaks so that would make people think."

Doug Bannister, chief executive of the Port of Dover, says the seafront is already “open for all”.

“There's nothing to stop anybody going for a swim if they’re drunk and we have had some,” he said.

“But part of our protection is that the Dover Harbour Board Police regularly patrols that area looking out for anti-social behaviour or anything out of the ordinary.

“There are also regular updates for sea conditions and tides.“

A spokesman for the port added: “Our new waterfront offer is another step forward in our ambition to make water sports more accessible to the community.

“The beach and harbour provide endless leisure and relaxation opportunities for all, with paddle boarding and swimming becoming increasingly popular.

“We will continue to encourage this in a safe and sensible way within our leisure zone.

“Kayakomat is a globally established paddle sports rental company and our expert teams here have been involved in different stages of the planning to help bring a fun and innovative facility to Dover.

“All users need to be over 18, wear the buoyancy aid that comes with the kayak, and agree to adhere to various safety procedures as part of the booking process.

“All bookings must also be made in advance online and approved before a kayak can be dispensed.”