The skipper of a 19th century steamboat has described the dramatic moment his pride and joy sank to the bottom of the Norfolk Broads after it hit an underwater object.

The Banjo was steaming along the River Yare near Buckenham in choppy conditions with seven people on board when disaster struck.

The steel object punched a hole in the wooden hull of the boat - which is thought to have once belonged to the Norwich mustard tycoons, the Colman family - and water began to pour in.

Eastern Daily Press: The location of where Banjo sank on the River YareThe location of where Banjo sank on the River Yare (Image: What 3 Words)

Owner Philip Webster, who was on board, was able to steer the stricken vessel towards the bank before issuing the 'abandon ship' order and allowing all on board to escape to safety.

Banjo, however, foundered and sank to the bottom of the river.

Eastern Daily Press: Banjo's funnel poking out of the water after the boat sunk while travelling on the River YareBanjo's funnel poking out of the water after the boat sunk while travelling on the River Yare (Image: Philip Webster)

She remains there, with just her funnel visible above the water, awaiting divers to carry out a salvage operation and raise her from the depths.

The 84-year-old from Broome said: "We had just launched from its mooring in Claxton and were travelling north battling a strong westerly wind.

"It was high tide and looked like there was plenty of water near the bank but after 10 minutes into the journey, we struck a very sharp steel protrusion about six inches square.

"We stopped instantly and water came flooding in and had to abandon ship.

"There were seven of us aboard and all managed to keep their feet dry apart from me."

Eastern Daily Press: Banjo is a historic steamboat believed to have been built in 1897Banjo is a historic steamboat believed to have been built in 1897 (Image: Philip Webster)

Mr Webster, who has been in and out of boats on the Broads all his life, saved Banjo "from the bonfire" in the mid-1980s and managed to restore it back to its former glory.

He ventures out along the waterways at least once a week, trundling along at a max speed of six knots. 

"It is not the first time Banjo has sunk," said Mr Webster, adding: "It hit a metal pole previously near New Mills Bridge and got stuck there all day.

"Hopefully we will be able to recover everything - a number of windows and the canopy are already accounted for - but the hull remains at the bottom.

"The phone has been ringing all day with people offering to help.

"it will steam again."

Members of one of Norfolk's oldest diving clubs, Anglian Divers, are due to assist with the salvage.

Once it is recovered, the boat will be taken to Loddon Marina in Chedgrave where Mr Webster will begin the repairs.

The history of Banjo

Banjo is a wooden steamboat built in 1897.

It used to belong to Russell Colman but was later left to a friend before it then ended up in the hands of Broadway Cruises in Oulton Broad. 

It was used to pull cruisers off the mud in Breydon, among other activities.

Eastern Daily Press: Inside Banjo, a historic steam engine that has sunk to the bottom of the River YareInside Banjo, a historic steam engine that has sunk to the bottom of the River Yare (Image: Philip Webster)

Mr Webster got Banjo in the mid-1980s, finding it as an empty hull with no engine, no boiler - the only machinery left was a prop shaft with no prop.

After a decade of restoration, it was back out steaming along the Broads in 1995.

It averages five miles an hour and is powered by coal, using as much as fifty kilos for a nine-hour trip.