22/05/2007

Cutty Sark searched for clues

Forensic scientists are examining the charred remains of the Cutty Sark in a bid to find clues to the fire which ravaged the famous ship on Monday.

The blaze, which broke out on the 19th Century tea clipper on display in Greenwich, southeast London on Monday morning, is being treated as suspicious.

There has been substantial damage to the famous ship, which had been closed to the public in order for an extensive �25 million restoration project to take place.

However, more than half the ship, including the masts and rigging, had been removed from the scene as part of the restoration work. The costs of restoring the ship are still expected to increase dramatically, however, and the Cutty Sark Trust has set up a fundraising page in order to raise money to repair the ship.

The Duke of Edinburgh is due to visit the scene today. The Duke helped form the Cutty Sark Society in 1951 in order to ensure the preservation of the ship.

A statement released by Buckingham Palace said: "The Duke was sorry to hear of the fire, this sad setback to an important example of our national maritime heritage."

The ship, one of Britain's best known tourist attractions, which attracts around 15 million visitors a year, had been due to reopen in 2009.

Police are examining CCTV footage from the area at the time the blaze started. It is thought that there were people in the area around the time that the blaze broke out and police are investigating the possibility that arson was the cause of the fire.

Police have appealed for any witnesses to contact them on: 0208 284 9416.

(KMcA/SP)

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