Harwich LV18 ship pictures show damage inside the vessel

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

Images from on board one of the last manned lightships reveals the extent of the damage caused by a fire.

The LV18, which once hosted pirate radio projects off the Harwich coast in Essex, was badly damaged on Friday.

Christopher Parker, 33, of Alexandra Street in the town, has been charged with arson in relation to the incident.

Tony O'Neil, from the Pharos Trust, which owns the boat, said its restoration had been a 24-year project.

The LV18 lightship caught fire on Friday in what police suspected to be an arson attack

He gave the BBC exclusive access to the the vessel as he described the "totally punishing" effect the fire had on him.

Mr O'Neil said the £40,000 he and his fellow volunteers had "scraped" together 18 months ago to kit the boat out with a studio had gone up in smoke.

Tony O'Neil said the boat's restoration had been a 24-year project

The fire also ripped through the cabins below deck and left the boat's upper floor severely smoke damaged.

Mr O'Neil vowed to "not be beaten" by the fire and said he would look to crowdfund ahead of its restoration

But Mr O'Neil said despite the "knockout blow", the team would not give up on their vision for the vessel.

"Although myself, my wife and all the volunteers - and the whole of Harwich - are absolutely devastated by this, we shall not be beaten," he said.

The volunteers had pooled £40,000 to fund work on the historic lightship

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