A FIRE which engulfed four leisure boats moored beside a Fenland river could have been much worse but for the quick-thinking actions of a man who managed to push another boat away and create a fire break.Chairman of the Denver Cruising Club Carol Warburt

A FIRE which engulfed four leisure boats moored beside a Fenland river could have been much worse but for the quick-thinking actions of a man who managed to push another boat away and create a fire break.

Chairman of the Denver Cruising Club Carol Warburton said that had it not been for the actions of the man three more boats and the clubhouse could have been destroyed in the blaze which broke out on Friday afternoon.

The blaze was fought by 20 fire fighters from local stations in the area.

Mrs Warburton said that all the owners of the four boats that were lost in the blaze had been notified and they were contacting their insurance companies.

"I believe that if this man who was one of the club members had not acted as he did and created a fire break by pushing one of the boats out into the river we could have lost three further boats and the clubhouse," said Mrs Warburton. She declined to name the man concerned.

Ely fire station commander Mick Johnson had also paid tribute to the work of the Littleport crew, the first to arrive at the scene beside the main A10 road at Southery, near Downham Market. He said that their quick actions, working under the direction of watch manager Clive Allen, saved the nearby club premises from being destroyed.

Nobody was injured in the incident .

Mr Jackman said that the four burning boats were destroyed and sank. A fifth boat was badly damaged.

It is believed that the fire was started accidently.