Retired bookmaker Dave Bonwick reckons he has become the toast of the seas after naming his speedboat Phonyblair.

Mr Bonwick, 64, from Portslade, at first tried to convince well-wishers the letters had fallen into place randomly in a freak coincidence.

The lifelong Conservative voter insisted he meant no offence.

He said: "I picked ten letters at random from the alphabet and the only word I could make from them was Phonyblair. That's all."

However, after further questioning he admitted the unusual name for his Fletcher speedboat was prompted by deeper resentment of the PM.

He said: "I've always been a Tory supporter but I had great admiration for John Smith and Harold Wilson. Blair is a joke, though. He just wants to play to the gallery all the time.

"I've always been a bit of a joker and this seemed a topical, up-to-date joke to make."

The speedboat is moored at Nicholsons Wharf in Portslade.

Last week, The Argus revealed how antiques dealer Roger Kirby paid £2,400 for one of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's old Jaguars - just to burn it.

Mr Kirby bought the car at Gorringes auctioneers in Lewes, with the proceeds going to the Rockinghorse Appeal at the Royal Alexandra children's hospital in Brighton.