A former floating restaurant being “wrecked” by kids on bikes is being blamed for the destruction of an historic pier.

Over the last two years, the sea wall at Gillingham Pier has been crumbling away due to a huge steel barge moored next to it crashing into the structure when raised by the tide.

A businessman who runs a sail making company on-site, warned eventually with a strong wind and high tide the boat, which has been moored there for restoration for three years, will pull the wall down.

Concerns have also been raised about groups of teenagers climbing on board the former floating restaurant, known as London Regalia, wreaking havoc.

Alan Smith, 73, who runs A&B Textiles in Pier Approach Road, said “I've not seen anyone working on the boat for about two years.,

“In the school holidays, I see kids riding around the deck on their bikes.

“They throw paint left there all over the boat and chuck equipment into the water.

“They are wrecking the place.”

Mr Smith, who has worked on-site for 25 years and has a boat moored there, said: ”It’s the worst it’s ever been. It’s going rapidly downhill

“Medway Council are just not bothered.

“There are about 20 boats here and they get money for the berths. But they are not spending it on the pier.”

Boat owner Richard Gibbens said he has complained about health and safety issues including a lack of lighting to the pontoons and damage to the pier.

He is also calling for the river bed to be dredged and a sunken vessel to be because it was removed which restricts him from sailing and was reliant on the tide.

Girlfriend Carole Sears also thinks it is “dangerous”. She said: ”It just seems to have been forgotten, which it shouldn’t be because there’s a lot of development going on there.

“It needs a fresh pair of eyes looking at it.

“It’s not a case of mismanagement. It’s no management.”

A Medway Council spokesman said: “The London Regalia is moored at Gillingham Pier. We are aware of the concerns that have been raised and are liaising with the tenant on this matter.”

He added that the council officer who previously monitored the site had recently retired and alternative arrangements were being considered.

A voluntary pier master was currently taking on the role.

There were no plans in place to refurbish the site but a reserve fund does exist which could be used for improvements and maintenance.

The 720 foot pier was completed in 1894 to accommodate the increase in river traffic on the Medway during the second half of the 19th century.

Steamboats were often prevented from calling at Gillingham as the river was continually silting up.

Gillingham Pier is home to the Medway Queen, the historic paddle steamer hailed as the Heroine of Dunkirk for her part in rescuing thousands of allied troops in northern France during the Second World War.

The boat which is being lovingly restored by the Medway Queen Preservation Society has been given the royal seal of approval by Prince Michael of Kent following his visit in 2019.

Other famous visitors have included the actors, married couple Timothy West and Prunella Scales, who are patrons of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society.