It cost �4m to rebuild the wharf after it burnt down

Queen's Wharf at Falmouth Docks has undergone an intensive six-month programme of demolition and construction following its destruction in January.

About 100 firefighters and dock personnel tackled the fire, which destroyed about 650 feet (200 metres) of the wooden wharf built in 1936.

The new dock has been rebuilt at a cost of about �4m and has been declared safer and stronger than the old one.

Future doubts

The fire on 8 January was thought to have been started by an electrical lighting unit.

The remains of the old burnt-out wharf had to be removed and hundreds of wooden piles pulled out of the sea-bed.

Metal pipes, fixing pins and a railway track which a crane used to run on also had to be cleared.

The crane itself was recovered from the seabed after it crashed into the water as the wharf burnt.

At the time, the company running the docks, the A & P Group, raised doubts about its future following the accident.

About 100 firefighters and dock personnel tackled the fire

But despite losing much of its berthing area, the company managed to fulfil existing contracts and keep its 600-strong workforce employed.

David Ring of the A and P Group said: "It was a very bad blow for the docks and it did put a question mark about our ability to continue trading here.

"But here we are, 10 months later, with an absolute world-class new wharf."

Peter Child of Falmouth Docks said: "It's more modern, it's actually got a bigger loading capacity, so we can do more work on it; and it's also got more modern fendering, which is much better for any ships that come alongside."

There are hopes that the new structure will herald more modernisation and expansion for the docks.