UK IT research hub goes up in smoke

Two of the most important IT research centres in the UK were gutted by fire yesterday.

The blaze destroyed the University of Southampton's research laboratories and offices of the Optoelectronics Research Centre and the School of Electronics and Computer Science.

John Lauwerys, Southampton university's secretary and registrar, said: "This is a huge loss to the university and the fire has destroyed one of our key research facilities of international importance, supporting groups in both Electronics and Computer Science and the Optoelectronics Research Centre.

"It is a huge relief that no one has been injured as a result of the fire and our concern now is to ensure that staff and students who normally work in the Mountbatten Building are given every help to re-establish their academic work."

Lauwerys added that it is not yet safe to enter the affected area and that the full extent of the damage in terms of lost research material remains unclear.

It is not known how the fire started, or whether it was arson, but the facility had liquid nitrogen storage tanks which appear to have exploded.

A plume of smoke now covers the area and local residents are being advised to avoid the vicinity where possible, although it is not thought that the cloud is toxic.

Tim Berners-Lee is currently chairman of Southampton University's Computer Science department which developed the mSpace browser.