SURREY Fire and Rescue Service has published a report on the devastating fire which left National Trust owned Clandon Park a shell, at the end of April.

Eighty firefighters were unable to save the grade one listed 18th-century stately home, near Guildford, when it was ravaged by flames.

The trust has said Clandon Park will be rebuilt in “some shape or form”.

Simon Moore, assistant chief fire officer, said: “Our investigation into the cause of the fire at Clandon Park has found it was accidental and began in an electrical fuse cupboard in the basement of the building.

“The cause of the fire was a faulty connection in the fuse board which was probably there when the board was first installed in the house.

“We believe a lack of fire protection to the ceiling of the electrical fuse cupboard allowed the fire to spread quickly to the room above, and it then spread throughout the house owing to its historic design.

“We have advised the National Trust of our findings and begun to work with them to consider what more can be done to improve the fire safety of their other buildings.

“Everybody needs to be aware that electrical fires like this can happen in any home and they can contact their local fire service for advice.”

Call 0800 085 0767 for a free fire safety visit.