MEMBERS of a Co Down sailing club have vowed to rebuild after a fire gutted its clubhouse.
The blaze at Strangford Sailing Club on Audleystown Road happened on Tuesday at around 9pm, destroying the entire premises.
TheNorthern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said two appliances dealt with the blaze, which took around two hours to bring under control.
A spokeswoman for the NIFRS last night said the "cause of the fire has been determined as accidental".
The club has around 70 members as well as some junior members with the building located on National Trust land at Castleward.
Club secretary Jane McMeekin last night told The Irish News that members have been left saddened by the fire.
"Some people saw the fire from Portaferry and one of our members was on the ferry and spotted it too," she said.
"It's a small one-storey building, which was built back in 1981, we're a small club but tight-knit.
"The roof has completely gone on the building, it's gutted.
"Thankfully there are no sails or boats kept in the building, but we had changing rooms, a club room and kitchen which are all gone. But there were old photographs and silverware inside, so they are all gone.
"It's a very sad day for the club."
Ms McMeekin said the club hopes to get back up and running as soon as possible.
"We are on National Trust land, so any decision about the building will involve them," she said.
"But we will aim to rebuild, we will be back.
"Until then, we have been offered so much help and support from other clubs, which has been lovely.
"It's great to have so much community support and we will now have to look to the future."