PLANS to open a new heritage centre at Bere Ferrers are forging ahead, despite a devastating fire which destroyed a carriage, guard's van and two wagons.

Quick action on the part of Tamar Belle heritage centre co-ordinator Chris Groves prevented the fire at Bere Ferrers station yard from also destroying a diesel engine in the blaze.

Mr Groves said he was 'gutted' by the destruction at the centre, which is due to open shortly.

Mr Groves, who has worked at the site for 12 years, said: 'The reality hasn't hit home yet.'

But he said the opening of the Tamar Belle restaurant and accommodation has not been affected, and the planned opening of the heritage centre will still take place on June 1.

The Tamar Belle Heritage Group was set up two years ago to create an information and heritage centre at the yard, providing information on the history of the area.

The display carriage was untouched, as was the carriage currently used as a dining car and sleeping accommodation.

Mr Groves said: 'Apart from morale, our plans haven't been affected, but we have lost the freight train and the ability to give guards van rides. But we can still give saloon coach rides.'

Mr Groves said the guards brake van which had been destroyed had had a lot of restoration work done on it by a Bere Alston resident — Peter Wooding — who had sadly died unexpectedly just over a week before.

'We are setting up a memorial appeal fund for Peter for a kit of parts to rebuild the van, which would be a fitting memorial to all the work he did here.'

Mr Groves said the teak-bodied carriage which initially caught fire was due to be converted to a dining car.

'Because everything was so dry, the timbers on adjacent wagons heated up and they caught fire as well,' he said.

'Someone knocked on the door at about ten minutes to eleven to tell us about the fire and I managed to move the diesel engine that was coupled to the carriage away from the conflagration.'

The engine he saved was later used to move the covered wagon away from the others to damp it down.

'Hopefully the phoenix will arise,' said Mr Groves.

Colin Shaw, sub-officer at Bere Alston fire station, said two fire engines from Tavistock joined the local crew in fighting the fire last Thursday evening, which took more than three hours to put out and damp down.

'The brake van, carriage and open wagon were completely destroyed, but we managed to save quite a bit of the covered wagon,' said Mr Shaw. The steel underframes survived.

He said the cause was 'suspicious' and investigations were continuing.

PC Rick Hartigan said the cause of the fire was unknown, but anyone with any information should contact Tavistock police station on 08705 777444 quoting crime number JT/02/347.

He said the fire took place shortly after the last train to Gunnislake stopped at the station and asked anyone on the train who noticed anything suspicious to contact him.