Boris’s water cannon fetch junk price as they are sold off for scrap

Three water cannon bought and renovated for over £300,000 by former London mayor Boris Johnson will be broken down for scrap after being sold for a fraction of their value.

The machines, which were never used, have been sold for parts to Reclamations (Ollerton) Ltd for just over £11,000, the mayor’s office announced yesterday.

The price does not even recuperate half of the £26,000 annual cost to maintain and insure the vehicles.

The water cannon were brought to London from Germany by Johnson in June 2014 for £85,000 and refitted for a further £240,000. But they were refused permission by home secretary Theresa May.

The three cannon have since stood, unused, in storage.

London mayor Sadiq Khan, who put the cannon up for sale in 2016, said: “For too long, London taxpayers have had to bear the brunt of Boris Johnson’s appalling botched water cannon deal.

“I'm pleased we have managed to finally get rid of them – and that the proceeds will be used to help young Londoners across our city.”

Croydon North MP Steve Reed tweeted: “Boris Johnson’s unused and unusable water cannon wash £300k of public money down the drain – he should be held to account for this at a time when London’s schools and police are facing such severe cuts.”