All aboard the good ship Ascot!

Craft-y homeowner Charlie Jackson, 39, of Main Street, Upper Poppleton, is to ferry high society punters to York Racecourse by boat during Royal Ascot week, when they rent out his cottage.

He hit on the novel idea as a way to bypass potentially gridlocked roads to the course.

Mr Jackson's garden backs on to the River Ouse and he plans to build a jetty to provide a safe walking area to the vessel, which he will hire for the week. Guests will also be kitted out in lifejackets before setting off.

"I came up with the idea after a taxi driver told me that many of them wouldn't be working over Ascot week because the whole city was likely to be gridlocked," he said.

"The river won't be gridlocked, so what better way is there to get to the races than by boat?

"Hopefully it will make their week extra special. I might even get some champagne laid on so they can travel in style."

Mr Jackson, who runs Pinnacle Roof Line and has lived in the house for five years, plans to hire someone to take guests on the boat and pick them up. He predicts the journey will take a maximum of 30 minutes.

"I will probably get my guests dropped off near Rowntree Park so they only have a short walk to the course," he said.

Mr Jackson plans to advertise his house and "water bus" service on the lettings website, Ascotlets.com

Website spokesman Neil Boddy said it was a "unique idea" to take race-goers by boat and could prove very popular.

He predicted that Mr Jackson's house could be rented for up to £10,000.

"It's a fantastic idea," Mr Boddy said.

"He is really entering into the spirit of what Ascot is all about."

The Evening Press recently reported that a 21-year-old student had put a £18,500 price tag on his luxury penthouse property at the Emperor's Wharf building for Royal Ascot week.

Updated: 09:27 Saturday, April 24, 2004