Firefighters the Coastguard and RNLI attended when a 35ft boat went up in flames on the River Frome.

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to the incident at 9.20pm on Sunday 7 June, by calls reporting smoke and flames in the area of Swineham Point, east of Wareham.

Firefighters from Wareham and Poole attended from opposite directions, as although several calls were received, none were able to accurately pinpoint the fire.

On locating the incident at Swineham, the crews found a 35ft vessel ‘heavily involved in fire’.

The Coastguard and RNLI also attended and Poole Harbour staff warned river traffic to keep away from the area due to the risk of cylinders being involved in the fire.

The boat at Wareham Quay, prior to the devastating fire

The boat’s owner Richard Martindale said: ‘It was our pride and joy. We’re just normal working people, I’m a dust cart mechanic.

‘For years, every penny we mustered together we spent on that boat. We used it on Sunday and got back home about 6pm.

‘We got a phonecall about 8-9pm saying it had caught alight and was completely – gone down to the waterline.’

The fire-damaged boat moored near Swineham Point, Wareham

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Crews used two main lines from open water to tackle the blaze.

A fire service spokesman said: ‘Although access was very difficult, good progress was made. The fire was brought under control just after 11pm and firefighters remained on scene until gone 1am damping down.

‘The cause of the fire is not currently known and unfortunately the vessel was completely destroyed.’