A 65ft trawler that became a US landmark after being carried inland during Hurricane Katrina has been destroyed by fire. The shrimper, which was originally moored on the Mississippi, floated three miles across marshland in the surge last August before being beached at Chalmette, Louisiana. It had served as the backdrop for TV broadcasts and attracted tourists from all over the country.

Firefighters battled for 12 hours on Friday to extinguish the blaze, which they believe was started deliberately. Unfortunately the flames fed on fuel in the boat’s 800-gallon tank, leaving it a total loss.