BOSSES of a historic Hampshire railway have insisted it is business as usual despite a fire which wrecked one of its restaurant cars.

The blaze caused severe damage to the Watercress Line carriage parked at Alresford railway station at 8.30am yesterday, as reported on the Daily Echo website.

The carriage, pictured, believed to be between 40 and 50 years old, has only recently entered service after a refurbishment lasting 20 years. Now it will need thousands of pounds of repairs.

More than a dozen firefighters tackled the blaze, which is believed to have been caused by a boiler left on all weekend. Staff at the railway, one of Hampshire's top tourist attractions, were quick to uncouple another carriage before they helped firefighters push the carriage away from the station buildings.

A senior firefighter said the fire could have had serious consequences. Watch manager Chris Roper, based at Winchester, said: "It is a timber-framed carriage. There was a danger that the fire could have spread to the station."

Six firefighters donned breathing apparatus and used two hoses and one jet to dowse the flames. One crew attended from Alresford and two from Winchester.

Mr Roper said: "It looks like the boiler was left on over the weekend and boiled dry and ignited up through the roof. A third of the carriage was destroyed by fire. The rest will need a complete refit.

"The staff were very sensible, removing batteries and LPG cylinders."

Colin Chambers, managing director of the Mid-Hants Railway, that operates the line, said: "We have two other restaurant cars so it shouldn't affect us a great deal. The cause is being investigated."