KEEN boatsman Kelvin Price is offering a £1,000 reward for the return of his rare motorboat, which was stolen from his garage last week.

The inflatable Quicksilver boat, one of only three in the UK, was taken from his home in Ferndale Road during the weekend.

A Suzuki outboard motor was also stolen.

The 41-year-old used the boat to treat his nine-year-old niece Carrie-Anne Richards to trips to the seaside, and has taken to social media to appeal for its safe return.

The distinctive boat has since appeared for sale on Gumtree before being hastily removed, and Kelvin has said anyone with information will not be scrutinised.

“It happened on Friday night and it was discovered on Saturday morning,” he said.

“They came over a neighbour’s garden wall and broke through the garage. I had stored in there a Quicksilver inflatable boat and a Suzuki 1500 horsepower outboard engine.

“Quite a few people on social media are looking out for it, and it was spotted put up for sale on Gumtree but it has been taken down very quickly since.”

Kelvin said the break-in is not a new occurrence in the area, and in the absence of police officers visiting to investigate he has taken matters into his own hands.

“It is a very rare boat because it is a special import from Belgium,” he said.

“I always use it to take my little niece away to the seaside in the summer. I work hard and it is nice to be able to pop down to the coast.”

He added: “There have been a lot of break-ins in garages in the Ferndale Road area, with a lot of motorcycles and bikes stolen.

“It was packed away in a blue bag at the time which was about five feet by three feet, and the Suzuki outboard motor was on a special stand for it with wheels attached.

“They would have had to use an estate car or van to get it away.

“I have asked around with neighbours and unfortunately nobody saw anything at the time.

“It seems that someone had a pushbike stolen the same night a few doors down.

“They might have sussed the place out and peered through the window before they came back equipped in the week.

“The police response has been quite disappointing, and I have been given a crime reference but nobody has visited me. I just want it back which is why I am offering a reward no questions asked.

“In that colour it is quite rare in because they are usually made in white. It is known as a fishing model and I think there are only two or three of them in the UK.”

Anyone with information about the missing boat should contact Kelvin on 07586521646, or Wiltshire Police on non-emergency number 101.