Engine room fire on Spain-bound ferry carrying British tourists and 900 people, as navy helicopters scrambled

A BOAT travelling to Spain carrying 900 people has caught fire, as navy helicopters were scrambled.

The Plymouth to Santander Pont-Aven vessel, run by Brittany Ferries, was re-routed to Brest in northwest France following the incident.

Carrying 766 staff and 142 staff, the ship was attended by French navy choppers carrying firefighters to tackle the blaze.

Fire broke out in the engine room at around 4am on Monday.

The travel company said ‘comprehensive checks’ would now be carried out on the 184m-long boat, which can carry 2,400 passengers and 650 cars.

It added: “Crew immediately put training into action and brought the fire under control.

“Brittany Ferries would like to apologise to all passengers affected by this morning’s incident and for the disruption to their onward journeys.”

British and Spanish nationals were among those on-board, but nobody was injured.

Passengers were given the option to travel back to the UK or continue to Spain, and would be compensated either way.