Houseboat moored by Richmond Bridge has been gutted by fire

Centaur, a canal boat moored in front of boatbuilding company Richmond Bridge Boat Houses, went up in flames in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Richmond firefighters confirmed they were called to the blaze at about 3.30am but said by that point the boat was "pretty well alight".

A spokesman at Richmond fire station said: "The interior is gone and it is just the shell left there now."

He also confirmed one man who had been on board when the blaze broke out had been taken to hospital with minor burns. No one else was hurt.

Firefighters from neighbouring Twickenham, Kingston and Heston all helped to put out the early morning fire after a Richmond Riverside security guard spotted the flames.

Mark Edwards, owner of Richmond Bridge Boat Houses, said it was lucky no one was seriously hurt.

He said: "There was a guy who had stayed on the boat overnight and he woke up early in the morning and lit the wood burning stove because he was cold... and something happened.

"He walked out the boat and the thing just went up in flames. It was lucky he was awake and just got out."

Mr Edwards added that the boat had been abandoned by its female owner last year.

He said the owner told the boat houses they could use the boat while she was away and they had occasionally been using it as an office.

Mr Edwards added it had been a "completely beautiful boat inside" and that he and his colleagues had been trying to track the owner down for more than nine months but had heard nothing from her.

Centaur, which is still moored by Richmond Bridge, is completely burnt out inside and has been secured to keep it above water.

A fire investigation unit is currently looking into the incident.

Did you see what happened? Or did you take a picture of the fire? Contact the newsroom on 020 8744 4274 or email cfleming@london.newsquest.co.uk.