A GRANDAD has been hailed a hero after his decision to work yesterday saved a historic restaurant from devastation.

It was chance that Trevor Bartlett went to work for a couple of hours and spotted The Ferry Restaurant go up in flames.

The 57-year-old marine worker, from Townhill Park, had gone to the Elephant Boatyard, Bursledon, to do some spraying while it was empty.

After smelling smoke he started to search for the source.

He jumped over a nearby fence and saw flames licking at the roof and smoke pouring out of the building.

He immediately called the fire brigade which were able to save most of the building.

Debra Ford, who has owned the restaurant for four years, said: “Trevor is a bit of a hero around here at the moment. If it wasn’t for him the whole place would have burned down.

“We are devastated and have just started to look at what can be salvaged. At the moment I just cannot say when we will be open.”

Richard Mount, Hampshire Fire and Rescue crew manager, said: “There is a bit of structural damage but it is mostly superficial. It would have been a completely different story if Trevor had stayed at home on the bank holiday.

“Seconds can be vital when it comes to fires and thanks to his call we were able to keep it contained.”

It took ten firefighters three-and-a-half hours to put the fire out.

As the restaurant used to be the chain link ferry or floating bridge that took passengers between Southampton and Woolston until 1977 the first on the scene were the coastguards to check that no diners were in the water.

When they found it was all locked up for the holiday they sent out Hamble Lifeboat in case any firefighters fell in while battling the flames.

The fire is thought to have started in an old panel that was part of the floating bridge.

It is not being treated as suspicious.

Trevor told the Daily Echo: “I’m just glad I was there to make the call so the place was not completely destroyed.”

The restaurant shut its doors after a busy New Year’s Eve that went on until 3am and was preparing for the month ahead before the blaze.

Anyone who is concerned about existing bookings should call the restaurant on 023 8040 2566.