Lakeside's Miller and Carter restaurant on historic paddle steamer is SINKING

A popular steak restaurant on a historic Mississippi paddle steamer at Thurrock Lakeside is going down today - sparking panic from loyal customers booked to eat there on Christmas Day.

The Miller and Carter steakhouse at the Essex shopping centre was spotted 'sinking like the Titanic' by shoppers this morning.

The paddle steamer, rated the fourth best restaurant in Grays on Tripadvisor, was spotted descending into the depths at around 11am. 

One academic from Southend, who is planning to dine there on Sunday, tweeted: 'I have a photo suggesting the Miller and Carter paddle steamer at Lakeside, Thurrock has sunk! Please can you confirm so we can make other arrangements for Christmas Day!!?!?!' 

Another customer from Hackney shared a photo of the ship's stern sinking deeper into the water and said: 'Looks like my family meal is cancelled!'.

'We are aware of the current situation at Miller and Carter Lakeside,' a Facebook post from the restaurant read.

'Please do not try and call Miller and Carter Lakeside a this time as they are working hard to try and rectify this situation. Thank you and sorry for any inconvenience.'

The paddle steamer has been a fixture at Lakeside for years, but bought up by Miller and Carter who refurbished it and opened it in 2019. It has been there since at least 2007 and was previously an Old Orleans.

Its current owners, the Mitchells and Butlers group, are yet to comment. It is still not clear why it is sinking.