Cash threat to Cutty Sark restoration

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Almost a year to the day since the mystery fire that gutted the 138-year-old tea clipper, repairs are on schedule. The ship is stripped down to its skeleton, with work due to be completed in March 2010.

But the cost of repairs has risen to £35 million and, despite a public appeal and £10 million extra from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £3.72 million is still needed.

Richard Doughty, chief executive of the Cutty Sark Trust, said: "It may seem churlish to appeal for funding after the £10 million grant, but the future of the project is not guaranteed. We desperately need someone with deep pockets to come forward.

"At the moment we can't make a commitment to work after September. We can't raise the sort of money we need from a community appeal.

"We've had pensioners sending postal orders and children sending pocket money. It shows how remarkably fond the public is of the ship." Renovation was already under way when the fire broke out on 21 May last year.

Mr Doughty said: "The extra 20 to 22 months added by the fire have had a huge cost impact in terms of inflation and renegotiating contracts."

A police report into the cause of the fire, while the ship was in dry dock in Greenwich, is expected within the next two months.

Most of the vessel's original rigging, masts, coach and deck survived as they were in storage.

When the project is completed, more than 90 per cent of the ship's fabric will be original material, with reclaimed 19th century timber being used where required.