FISHERMEN have stepped up their campaign against EU fishing quotas in the run-up to European elections.The protesters used the 40-foot yacht, Super S, which was berthed at Harwich Quay yesterday, as a backdrop to present Euro candidate Jeremy Titford with a bill that they claimed was the cost of the damage caused to Britain by the EU's Common Fisheries Policy.

FISHERMEN have stepped up their campaign against EU fishing quotas in the run-up to European elections.

The protesters used the 40-foot yacht, Super S, which was berthed at Harwich Quay yesterday, as a backdrop to present Euro candidate Jeremy Titford with a bill that they claimed was the cost of the damage caused to Britain by the EU's Common Fisheries Policy.

The yacht's skipper, Dave Horsley, then sailed out of the harbour, accompanied by a flotilla of Harwich fishing boats in support of the UK Independence Party's stance in the impending elections.

Mr Horsley will be taking the bill on the rest of his voyage, during which he will meet up with a fishing trawler, the J-Anne. Both vessels will then sale together up the Thames and the protest will culminate in a special event at Traitors' Gate on June 6.

Mr Titford, from Frinton, said: "The support of the Harwich fishermen is much appreciated. They understand the great damage that membership of the EU has done to our fishing industry and to their livelihoods.

"We are an island nation, but now, incredibly, unless something is done to reclaim our fishing waters, we face a future without a fishing industry at all."

Harwich MP Ivan Henderson was also in the town yesterday to support Labour's EU candidates ahead of the launch of its European election manifesto.