The Cutty Sark was destroyed by fire in 2007

Iconic tea clipper the Cutty Sark re-opens today - thanks to restoration work carried out in Kent.

The Victorian vessel was badly damaged by a blaze in 2007, but parts of the ship were already safety stored in Chatham's Historic Dockyard.

Masts, rigging and decking were transported to the dockyard six months earlier, when vital restoration began on the vessel, and stored between the submarine HMS Ocelot and the Victorian sloop HMS Gannet.

Stephen Archer, chairman of Cutty Sark Enterprises, said at the time: "It's lucky they were there because otherwise we would have lost the ship forever.

"Despite the fire we will have a ship that's 90 per cent original which is a fantastic achievement."

Computer experts from the University of Greenwich at Medway helped with the £50 million restoration project.

Cutty Sark masts stored at the Historic Dockyard Chatham

Researchers used their software skills to ensure the Cutty Sark was dismantled and stored in the safest possible way and created a virtual model of the ship to aid the repairs.

Advice from the Greenwich team, who won an award for their work, also formed part of a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund, which resulted in a £13 million grant towards the costs of the repairs.

The world's last remaining tea clipper has now been restored to her heyday, when she carried goods from around the globe back to England.

She is displayed more than 11ft above her dry berth in Greenwich, and is once again a major landmark passed by runners who took part in Sunday's London marathon.

The vessel was unveiled by The Queen yesterday before being opened to the public today. Visitors can enjoy a new exhibition, explore the decks and walk beneath her famous hull.