Never have quiet dinners with neighbours attracted so much police attention.

Saturday’s “moveable feast” fundraiser for Free the Quay had to be cancelled when the organisers discovered that they should have applied for drinks licenses in order to sell the £25 entry tickets, which had been advertised to include wine as well as food.

On arrival a refund was given to every ticket holder but the hungry hordes were still able to eat because of the generosity of the people of Mistley. They opened their doors and dinner tables to all 70 or so supporters and wined and dined them free of charge.

However, groups of up to four local police at a time, repeatedly expressed their fears that the event might cause disorderly behaviour and damage to property. The villagers, mostly over fifty, who had dressed up to the nines to eat canapés on the edge of Mistley Green before dinner and who returned there afterwards for cheese and pudding, had a great time and gave no cause for concern.

All the supporters wanted to express their gratitude for a splendid evening and made generous donations to FTQ funds, which are going to be used to have the fence removed by legal means.

No doubt the local police enjoyed their quiet evening too.