“Sparks from the cannonball, which was fired from the huge 22-tonne wooden trebuchet, ignited the roof of the 119-year-old boathouse. Rescue crews, including 30 firefighters, dashed to the scene of the blaze.

Families watched in disbelief as the thatched roof caught fire after the final launch of the trebuchet. Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that they sent three fire engines to tackle the blaze.