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 at 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 they've removed the mast, the wheel 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 she has been visited by some 15 million people.

Police are looking into the possibility that the fire on Monday, May 21, was started deliberately.

"I can't understand why anybody would want to do such a thing, if it was done deliberately," said Mrs Cooper. "I just hope she can be restored and we can go down to London and see her in her full glory again."

She said her family are all members of the Cutty Sark Society.

A national fund-raising appeal has been launched to pay for restoration.