RESTORATION work on the Cutty Sark will be finished in time for its re-opening next year.

Fire ripped through Greenwich’s 19th century tea-clipper ship, on May 21 in 2007, causing £10m worth of damage.

More than 40 firefighters tackled the inferno during the early hours of the morning but could not prevent huge damage to the ship's three decks nor save the clipper's iron frame from buckling.

But despite donations and a contribution by the Heritage Lottery Fund to charity the Cutty Sark Trust, a funding gap of around £3.3m remained to restore the ship.

However, Isreali shipping magnate and philanthropist Sammy Ofer's donation of £3.3m last June meant the trust could finally secure the Cutty Sark's future and the ship is now due to re-open at the end of next year.

Stephen Archer, chairman of Cutty Sark enterprises, says restoration work on the ship is going smoothly.

He said: “The external planks of the ship will start being put back in the next month and they will be painted with special paint to prevent rust.

“When it re-opens it will be an iconic addition to the World Heritage site in Greenwich.”

When the project is completed the Cutty Sark will be suspended three metres above the bottom of her dry berth and visitors will be able to walk beneath the ship's hull.

A year-long investigation by the Met, London Fire Brigade and Forensic Science Services found an industrial vacuum cleaner, left on for two days, sparked the blaze.

The report found the machine did not have a vital cut-off switch which prevents overheating when the suction hose becomes blocked.

Two security guards, who have since been fired, were criticised for not noticing the fire sooner.

Meanwhile the Met's Detective Chief Inspector Dave Garwood, who led the investigation, said more regular fire safety checks could have prevented the vacuum from being left on over the weekend.