Ken Dodd's dream of opening Britain's first comedy museum has been shattered by arsonists.

A Bonfire Night blaze devastated the historic Victorian mansion in the Merseyside suburb of Knotty Ash which the comic had planned to use to celebrate British comedy.

And yesterday a bulldozer started to destroy Thingwall House, which dates from 1848,

Campaigner Yvonne Irving told the Liverpool Echo: "This is a devastating day for all of us. There was so much history in that house that has just been destroyed. Ken called me at about 1.30am this morning and he was just devastated.

"He was so upset. This was always our worst fear and now it has finally happened. It is absolutely heartbreaking."

The comedian, who turns 76 tomorrow, said: "I am sad and disgusted at what I have witnessed today. I warned that this would happen but nobody would listen. It is a disgrace."

Police suspect arsonists started the blaze, which took firefighters five hours to control.

Dodd had previously helped persuade Liverpool City Council not to demolish the building.

He said he wanted to establish the museum because "the traditional sense of humour is in danger of becoming diluted".