A fire has caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to a boat building shed recently opened by the Queen’s cousin.
Firefighters were called out to the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival’s workshop in Portsoy late on Monday afternoon.
The shed – which was officially opened by the Duke of Kent last month – is used to teach young people, including local school children boat building skills.
It is understood the fire at the Shore Street property was the result of a faulty flue attached to a new wood burner.
And last night, the chairman of the festival has praised the emergency services.
Roger Goodyear said: “It was actually the first time the log-burning fire had been lit.
“We estimate, because the fire brigade had to cut a hole in the roof to make sure the fire was out, it’s going to cost between £4,000 and £5,000 to repair. The building’s fully insured.
“But it won’t hinder operations there – they were boat building today. It’s just a damn nuisance.”
Mr Goodyear praised the firefighters for their “swift” actions which prevented the blaze taking hold and threatening the rest of the building.
He added: “We’ll just be glad when this gets fixed and we can put the fire on again to keep us warm in winter.”
A fire service spokesman said: “The fire in the single-storey building appeared to be in the roof space.
“Crews in breathing apparatus used two hose reel jets to tackle the fire. They also used small tools to cut away sections to check for signs of fire spread.
“The fire was under control by 4.30pm and the last appliance left the scene at 5.18pm.
“Investigation into the cause is ongoing but not believed to be suspicious.”
The annual Scottish Traditional Boat Festival draws thousands of sailing enthusiasts to the fishing village of Portsoy every June.