The owner of a Suffolk jet ski hire business has warned that plans to introduce licensing for jet skis could potentially affect tourism in the county.

At the end of October, East Suffolk Council launched a public consultation on the licensing of commercial operators of jet skis and water scooters in the east Suffolk district, which aimed to seek the views of operators, interested parties and the general public.

If the council decides to refuse to licence operators, other than in exceptional circumstances, then jet skis will no longer be allowed to be hired out in the district.

READ MORE: Suffolk Jet Ski launches offering trips in Felixstowe area

If the council does decide to licence, then conditions can be applied to a licence and enforcement action taken if the conditions are breached.

The licensing will only focus on jet skis for hire, not those used by private owners.

Councillors have raised concerns about the safety of jet skis on the river and the impact on wildlife.

But Daniel Mayhew, who runs Suffolk Jet Ski on the river Deben, warned that increased council "meddling" could make running a jet ski business unviable and risk losing tourists and the "incremental revenue" they bring to the county.

He said his customers had come from as far away as Germany, Leeds and Manchester, while his jet skis operated on the river Deben and did not go out to sea.

The firm offers tours along the river.

READ MORE: Consultation on jet skis use in east Suffolk launched

However, he said if the council's involvement became too "onerous" then people would not bother setting up a jet ski hire business.

He added there were a lot of costs, including training staff, the cost of the skis and insurance, as well as fuel.

His business was launched in the Felixstowe area in July.

He said: "It is not just me. We are going to continue doing it if it is worth doing. It is the people who are going to be using it.

READ MORE: Felixstowe news

"We could be taking away tourism and the incremental revenue from attracting people to Suffolk, if you meddle with it too much."

Mr Mayhew is a cross border payments expert with the fintech industry and said he set up Suffolk Jet Ski as a hobby and family-run business, which his wife and children help him to run.

The consultation is due to end on November 26.

READ MORE: Suffolk news