A fire on board the famous 19th Century ship Cutty Sark is now out and is being treated as suspicious by police.
A fire on board the famous 19th Century ship Cutty Sark is now out and is being treated as suspicious by police.
An area around the 138-year-old tea clipper was evacuated amid fears that gas cylinders were on board but it has been confirmed that none were present.
An area around the 138-year-old tea clipper was evacuated amid fears that gas cylinders were on board but it has been confirmed that none were present.
Greenwich town centre in south-east London has been closed to traffic.
Greenwich town centre in south-east London has been closed to traffic.
A Cutty Sark Trust spokesman said 50% of the ship was removed for restoration work. He said the Trust is devastated but it could have been worse.
A Cutty Sark Trust spokesman said 50% of the ship was removed for restoration work. He said the Trust is devastated but it could have been worse.
Charred planking
Charred planking
Chris Livett, Chairman of Cutty Sark Enterprises, speaking at the scene, said: "We had removed 50% of the planking, so 50% of the planking wasn't on site and that's safe and secure.
Chris Livett, Chairman of Cutty Sark Enterprises, speaking at the scene, said: "We had removed 50% of the planking, so 50% of the planking wasn't on site and that's safe and secure.
"And from where I stand there is not a huge amount of damage to the planking that was left on.
"And from where I stand there is not a huge amount of damage to the planking that was left on.
"There are pockets of charred planking and some have gone, but it doesn't look as bad as first envisaged."
"There are pockets of charred planking and some have gone, but it doesn't look as bad as first envisaged."
When you lose original fabric, you lose the touch of the craftsman, you lose history itself Richard Doughty, Chief Executive of the Cutty Sark Trust
When you lose original fabric, you lose the touch of the craftsman, you lose history itself Richard Doughty, Chief Executive of the Cutty Sark Trust
Police are analysing CCTV images which are thought to show people in the area shortly before the fire started at about 0500 GMT.
Police are analysing CCTV images which are thought to show people in the area shortly before the fire started at about 0500 GMT.
Inspector Bruce Middlemiss from the Metropolitan police said detectives were looking into the possibility that the fire was deliberately started and would like to speak to some people seen in the area last night.
Inspector Bruce Middlemiss from the Metropolitan police said detectives were looking into the possibility that the fire was deliberately started and would like to speak to some people seen in the area last night.
"There is indication that there were people in the area at the time when the fire initially started, that's come from the local borough CCTV," he said.
"There is indication that there were people in the area at the time when the fire initially started, that's come from the local borough CCTV," he said.
"There's no indication at this stage that the people that are on that CCTV footage are actually involved in the incident, but may merely be witnesses."
"There's no indication at this stage that the people that are on that CCTV footage are actually involved in the incident, but may merely be witnesses."
Speaking to BBC News, the chief executive of the Cutty Sark Trust, Richard Doughty, said he feared what would be lost in the blaze.
Speaking to BBC News, the chief executive of the Cutty Sark Trust, Richard Doughty, said he feared what would be lost in the blaze.
CUTTY SARK Built in fact 1869Designed by Hercules Linton at DumbartonAttracts 15m visitors a yearPreserved as a tribute to merchant navy workers
CUTTY SARK Built in 1869 at Dumbarton on the River ClydeNamed after a Robert Burns' poem Tam O'ShanterDesigned by Hercules LintonAttracts 15m visitors a yearPreserved as a tribute to merchant navy workers
"When you lose original fabric, you lose the touch of the craftsman, you lose history itself," he said.
"When you lose original fabric, you lose the touch of the craftsman, you lose history itself," he said.
"And what is special about Cutty Sark is the timbers, the iron frames, that went to the South China Seas, and to think that that is threatened in any way is unbelievable, it's an unimaginable shock."
"And what is special about Cutty Sark is the timbers, the iron frames, that went to the South China Seas, and to think that that is threatened in any way is unbelievable, it's an unimaginable shock."
He said the ship would be "irreplaceable".
He said the ship would be "irreplaceable".
He added that the Cutty Sark was not just an important part of maritime heritage but an important part of British identity.
He added that the Cutty Sark was not just an important part of maritime heritage but an important part of British identity.
Mr Doughty described the ship as the epitome of speed under sail.
Mr Doughty described the ship as the epitome of speed under sail.
The Cutty Sark is the world's oldest surviving tea clipper
The Cutty Sark is the world's oldest surviving tea clipper
An eyewitness, who saw the fire as she was driving across the Thames, said: "I can see all this smoke billowing out from round by where the Cutty Sark is.
An eyewitness, who saw the fire as she was driving across the Thames, said: "I can see all this smoke billowing out from round by where the Cutty Sark is.
"It was black, thick black smoke... as I've come over the bridge there's all police cars blocking the road and everyone's being diverted."
"It was black, thick black smoke... as I've come over the bridge there's all police cars blocking the road and everyone's being diverted."
Residents living near the ship were evacuated from their homes and taken to a Greenwich hotel, Scotland Yard confirmed.
Residents living near the ship were evacuated from their homes and taken to a Greenwich hotel, Scotland Yard confirmed.
The ship was undergoing £25m renovation works and was closed to visitors.
The ship was undergoing £25m renovation works and was closed to visitors.
The conservation work was being carried out as sea salt had accelerated the corrosion of her iron framework.
The conservation work was being carried out as sea salt had accelerated the corrosion of her iron framework.
