A barge houseboat sank in the River Medway last night despite rescue attempts by firefighters with pumps.

The 80ft vessel was being towed down river by a tugboat, when it began taking on water and flooded.

The houseboat, which was in the process of being restored, was being towed to Upnor.

But when it reached Laser Quay, next to Culpeper Close on Strood's Medway City Estate, its owner moored it to the jetty and called for help. Fire crews from Strood and Medway stations tried to pump out the water.

Ian Simpson, watch manager at Strood station, said: "The ­owners, a father and son, were able to get their belongings off the barge as we were pumping out the water.

"We went to the scene at about 10pm and after a while called for another pump from Medway as the water was coming in very quickly. There was a hole in the bottom of the boat.

"Unfortunately the water overwhelmed the boat and it became too dangerous for the crew to stay on the barge.

"We could not save it and it sank as it was high tide. We spent two hours on the scene."

The next morning there was no sign of the barge at Laser Quay and it is thought the owners may have managed to re-float it after emergency repairs at low tide.

Are you the houseboat owner? Phone the newsdesk on 01634 227803.