Fire hits New York cathedral

Fire badly damaged the cathedral of St John the Divine in New York today.

More than 200 firemen, hampered by high winds, spent two hours controlling the fire. No injuries were reported but a column of smoke hung over the city, reminiscent of the World Trade Center disaster.

Part of the roof collapsed and flames burst through stained glass windows after the blaze broke out in a gift shop at about 7am, shortly before the first Mass of the day. It rapidly engulfed most of the east side of the building in Manhattan.

The gothic-style cathedral of the Episcopal Church, the Church of England's US branch, is the largest church in the country. Its foundation stone was laid in 1892.