Chris Miller and Sze Liu's converted barge, which featured on Grand Designs in 2007, broke free from its moorings in Southend and was washed up at Westcliff on Sea.
 
Known as the Medway EcoBarge, it failed to impress Kevin McCloud, who disliked the owner's adhoc approach and reluctance to work to a formal design, and described it as a floating scrapheap challenge.
 
The boat is believed to have been vandalised and used by squatters and partygoers in recent months. It has since been towed back to its moorings.
 
The £80,000 project ran into cash problems and the couple, both social workers, abandoned the idea of living in it but Mr. Miller had plans to start work on it again this spring, however the estimated £70,000 worth of damage done to it by vandals means this is apparently no longer viable.