Author's barge is destroyed in fire

AUTHOR Terry Darlington has seen the narrowboat he travelled the world in go up in flames during a fire at a boatyard.

A blaze close to the base of the Canal Cruising Company, in Stone, last night destroyed three boats moored on the Trent and Mersey Canal.

All the boats were privately owned, and one is believed to have been lived in full-time.

The Phyllis May, which had taken travel-writer Mr Darlington and his wife Monica across the English Channel and around America, was also destroyed.

Emergency services were called to the boatyard in Crown Street at 6.40pm yesterday, to a report of a narrowboat which was ablaze.

The flames quickly spread to two others moored alongside it, and one later sank.

Nobody is believed to have been on board the boats at the time.

Frantic efforts to move the cruising company's fleet away from the flames meant other boats were saved.

Mr Darlington, aged 73, of Oulton Road, Stone, told The Sentinel: "Someone rang us and told us our boat was in a fire so we went down there. It was a furious blaze.

"It started a couple of boats away from us, spread to the next boat, which sank, then it spread to ours. It's burnt out end to end.

"We're upset, but nobody was injured and the boat's insured, so it could have been a lot worse. Luckily our dog Jim wasn't on board at the time.

"It's ironic that the boat's taken us half-way round the world, though tornadoes, hurricanes and alligator-infested waters, then burns to death at its own mooring."

The cause of the blaze remained a mystery last night, although it is thought it may have started in the boat's engine room.

Police remained at the scene overnight and fire investigation officers are looking into the circumstances of the blaze today.

A police spokesman said: "An investigation into whether the fire was accidental or started deliberately will start in the morning when it gets light.

"It will be led by the fire and rescue service, which will get us involved if they find anything suspicious."

Fire crews started to leave the scene by 10pm. A fire brigade spokesman said: "Two pumps from Stone and one from Eccleshall were the first on the scene along with a representative from British Waterways. Two more appliances from Stafford were later deployed."

British Waterways officers are also expected at the scene this morning.

Dave Bailey, team leader, said: "We have to make sure no oil or diesel escapes into the canal."

Mr Darlington scored a hit with his first book, Narrow Boat To Carcassonne, which recounted his trip across the English Channel and through France, with his wife and his whippet Jim.

Last year he released Narrow Dog To Indian River, which told of the trio's adventures along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway to Florida.