A MALVERN relative of the man who built the Cutty Sark says she hopes the fire-ravaged sailing ship can be fully restored.

Pauline Cooper of The Rhydd was shocked on Monday morning to hear the news about the fire, which damaged the famous clipper at its dry dock in Greenwich. Mrs Cooper's great-uncle was Captain John Willis of Dumbarton, who built the ship in 1869.

Mrs Cooper said: "I was absolutely horrified when I heard. The Cutty Sark is part of Britain's maritime heritage.She is just a beautiful ship, so elegant."

She is hoping that the damage to the ship, which was initially reported as severe, is not as bad as first thought. "She's been undergoing a £25 million refit, and the've removed the mast, the whell and lots of other important parts, so I hope they'll be able to repair the damage."

The Cutty Sark, one of the most famous sailing ships of all time, was built to be the fastest ship of its time, bringing tea back from China to Britain. Since 1957 she has been on display on the banks of the Thames, where some 15 million people have visited her.

Police are looking into the possibility that the fire, which started about 5am on Monday, was arson. "I can't understand why anybody would want to do such a thing, if it was done deliberately," said Mrs Cooper.

She said her family are all members of the Cutty Sark Society. "I just hope she can be restored and we can go down to London and see her in her full glory again."