This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/7643420.stm

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Cutty Sark blaze was accidental Cutty Sark blaze was accidental
(about 1 hour later)
A fire which caused £10m damage to the Cutty Sark was sparked by electrical machinery, police have said.A fire which caused £10m damage to the Cutty Sark was sparked by electrical machinery, police have said.
Police said an industrial vacuum cleaner accidentally left switched on for two days caused the blaze.Police said an industrial vacuum cleaner accidentally left switched on for two days caused the blaze.
The fire caused serious damage to the 19th Century ship, based in Greenwich, south-east London, in May last year.The fire caused serious damage to the 19th Century ship, based in Greenwich, south-east London, in May last year.
Conservation work was taking place on the vessel at the time, and the fire damage raised the total cost of the ongoing restoration by £10m to £35m.Conservation work was taking place on the vessel at the time, and the fire damage raised the total cost of the ongoing restoration by £10m to £35m.
The vacuum cleaner was being used to remove waste from the ship as part of a renovation work.The vacuum cleaner was being used to remove waste from the ship as part of a renovation work.
Battled blazeBattled blaze
Investigators said it had been left running throughout the weekend before the fire broke out in the early hours of Monday 21 May, 2007.Investigators said it had been left running throughout the weekend before the fire broke out in the early hours of Monday 21 May, 2007.
More than 40 firefighters battled the blaze for almost two hours as it burned through each of the ship's three decks, destroying all the building work structures and tools on board.More than 40 firefighters battled the blaze for almost two hours as it burned through each of the ship's three decks, destroying all the building work structures and tools on board.
The damage could have been far worse, however, as the ship's masts, deckhouses and saloon, along with half of its planking, had been taken away for conservation or storage.The damage could have been far worse, however, as the ship's masts, deckhouses and saloon, along with half of its planking, had been taken away for conservation or storage.
Renovation of the ship is now expected to be completed by early 2010 when it will be raised 3m (9.8ft) above the bottom of its dry berth and suspended so visitors can walk underneath.Renovation of the ship is now expected to be completed by early 2010 when it will be raised 3m (9.8ft) above the bottom of its dry berth and suspended so visitors can walk underneath.
Richard Doughty, chief executive of The Cutty Sark Trust, said the charity would "certainly be considering our position with our lawyers" following the report.
"Obviously the fire was a huge setback to the conservation project. We would have been on the programme to complete our work this year.
"Inevitably, therefore, the costs of our project have increased very significantly."
Mr Doughty praised the efforts of the fire brigade and subsequent police investigation into the cause of the blaze.
"We are very grateful to the police and to the fire brigade and would like to thank them for their diligence."
Advertisement
Footage of an identical vacuum cleaner on fire