Historic lightship reopens after 'devastating' fire

The fire on the LV18 caused damage estimated at £250,000

An historic lightship is to be reopened to the public after it was devastated by an arson attack.

The LV18, which once hosted pirate radio projects off the Harwich coast in Essex, was set alight on 2 February.

Tony O'Neil from the trust that owns the boat said volunteers were "exhausted" after working to get it ready to welcome visitors again on Saturday.

Christopher Parker, 33, of Alexandra Street in the town, admitted setting it on fire and will be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court in July.

Marine surveyors estimated the damage inflicted on the boat would cost £250,000 to repair.

The fire ripped through cabins below deck and spread to the boat's upper deck

Mr O'Neil said the Pharos Trust had spent £43,000 to make it shipshape again, with £37,000 forked out on cleaning alone.

He thanked volunteers and people who donated money to the restoration product for their "extraordinary" efforts.

"We've restored absolutely everything because the whole ship was absolutely smoke-logged," Mr O'Neil told the BBC.

He said all electrical equipment on board had been replaced and a new radio station - Haven Community Radio - would be launched from the vessel at the end of June.

Most of the vessel has been made shipshape but repairs are still being carried out to three cabins

"It's a strange feeling. We are all exhausted - we've been here over the last four months at 08:00 with some very, very late nights," Mr O'Neil said.

On the fire, he added: "It was devastating to see - 25 years of your life and then seeing the whole thing going up in smoke.

"But I thought we won't be beaten and we will bounce back."

Most of the boat was ready to be reopened to visitors, with just three cabins still being prepared.