COMEDIAN and presenter Griff Rhys Jones moored in Harwich to find out more about the Mayflower Project and take a muddy run through Manningtree.

The popular TV personality visited the site as part of his ITV documentary Gryff’s Great Britain.

His visit to Essex and Suffolk was seen in episode three of the series, which will be screened throughout January.

Mr Rhys Jones stopped off at Harwich and Manningtree as part of his mission to find and eat a Colchester native oyster found in the River Blackwater.

He was on hand at the Mayflower Project site in George Street to help with some log cutting and spoke to the man in charge of the project, Anthony Wilding.

Sean Day, Mayflower Project spokesman, said: “He was working on the build of the ship for a while.

“I have to say he enjoyed the visit and we’ve had a lot of positive comments and visitors popping in since it’s been on.

“He was a good laugh and he is a very approachable guy.

“These sort of visits do help massively with publicity for the project.”

Mr Rhys Jones also stopped off in Manningtree to try his hand at the Stour sailing club’s mud run, held at the annual regatta.

“Estuary mud is embraced here in Essex and not always in ways you would expect,” he said.

“Every year here in Manningtree they have a mud race at the regatta.

“There’s no easy way to run through mud, the water is fine but the thick greasy mud banks tend to suck you down.

“The energy required to extract each foot is positively exhausting never mind the concentration required to stay upright.”