Fire engines from Martham, Stalham, Great Yarmouth, Acle, Wroxham, Gorleston and Wymondham went to the scene as well as the fire engine rescue boat, police and ambulance crews.

When they arrived the metal boat shed was in flames.

About 20 leisure boats inside were also burning and petrol and oil from the boat engines had spilled everywhere.

Scott Norman, fire crew manager, told the Norwich Evening News: "It was quite a severe fire. When we got there the owners were there and they were very calm. Some holidaymakers were also standing around watching. Noone was injured."

The fire brigade used the surface rescue boat to put out pollution booms to contain the oil and debris into a small part of the river.

"Then we called the Environment Agency who started clearing it up. ."

Norman said there were a number of possibilities as to what caused the fire and said at this stage they were not ruling out the possibility of arson.