Fire hits 12th-century cathedral

Firefighters are assessing one of Britain's oldest cathedrals following a blaze which was feared to have caused millions of pounds worth of damage.

Smoke from the fire, which broke out at Peterborough Cathedral at about 6.40pm on Thursday, is thought to have affected an ornate 13th-century ceiling and the church organ.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, which had about 50 officers at the scene, said the fire could have been worse had it not been for the quick thinking of a verger.

Crews were also able to use knowledge of the building gained from a familiarisation exercise at the cathedral last week.

Station Officer Ray McDonnell, the incident commander, said the verger spotted smoke coming from a window of the 12th-century building as he prepared to go home.

"By sheer chance, he had stopped to talk to a couple of choristers," said Mr McDonnell. "Normally he would have been long gone when he noticed flames from a window.

"He was able to tell us when we got there that it was by the organ on the left hand side from the nave aisle.

"It could have been so much worse. We had amazing luck ... We're all elated that we managed to stop what would have been a national disaster. We nearly lost the pride of Peterborough."

Crews wearing breathing apparatus and using thermal imaging equipment had to battle thick smoke to put out the fire, which was extinguished in about 25 minutes.

It is thought the ornate front of the organ has been severely smoke-damaged along with a decorated medieval ceiling, dating from 1230, which had only recently been cleaned.

The Dean of the Cathedral, the Very Rev Michael Bunker, said he was shocked, but relieved more damage had not been done.

But he added: "The fire was near the organ so it will have damaged that. Organs are very sensitive things. It would have caused untold damage costing thousands and thousands.

"The worst is the ceiling which runs the length of the nave and is a unique piece of medieval art. We have just spend £1.5 million and four years restoring it.

"We were at the last section and of course, the soot and grime and smoke will have covered it."

He added: "It could have been a lot worse. There could have been structural damage."

Architects and fire investigators were expected to visit the cathedral today to assess the damage.

Only one person was injured in the incident. He was treated for minor smoke inhalation.

The Cathedral Church of St Peter, St Paul and St Andrew is the third abbey to stand on the site and dates back to the 12th century.

An abbey founded on the site in AD655 was destroyed by the Danes, reconstructed in 972, but burned down by mistake in 1116.

Work on the current building started in 1118 and took more than 120 years to complete.

Notable features include the West Front, built in the 13th century, and the tomb of Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon.

It was also the former final resting place of Mary, Queen of Scots.