THE dramatic images of a burning Notre Dame Cathedral have brought back memories of the devastating blaze which severely damaged York Minster 35 years ago.

Today a message of support has been sent to the city of Paris by York Minster. They said: “We are shocked and saddened by the terrible scenes at Notre Dame. Be assured of our love and prayers for our brothers and sisters in Paris. “ Prayers are also being said throughout the day at York Minster."

On July 9, 1984, the people of York saw what were described at the time as biblical images of flames engulfing the roof of the massive structure, which remains the largest Gothic church in the UK and the largest cathedral of its type north of the Alps.

Hundreds of firefighters battled through the night to save the building whose history and symbolism were similarly seen as part of the fabric of the north of England.

But, unlike in Paris, the fire crews who rushed to the city centre from across North Yorkshire managed to control the flames within a few hours and the majority of the Minster was saved.

Live: Fire rips through Notre Dame Cathedral

The cost was still huge. But the efforts made to restore the devastating damaged section may give some hope to those assessing the future of the Paris landmark.

The fire destroyed the roof of the Minster's South Transept, which was rebuilt using the traditional materials of medieval builders as part of a £2.25million restoration project.

The Northern Echo:

The people who helped rebuild York Minster after it was severely damaged by fire in 1984. Do you recognise anyone?

The best known victim of the blaze, and of the Minster's subsequent restoration, was the famous Rose Window, the stained glass masterpiece which looks over the centre of York.

The window stayed in place, despite the fire raging around it, but its 73 panels, containing 7,000 pieces of stained glass had shattered into about 40,000 pieces.

As work began rebuilding the roof, craftsmen started to reconstruct the window, which was begun as a structure in the mid 13th century but had the stained glass put in in the 15th century to honour the Tudors.

Special adhesives were developed just for this project so the traditional properties of the glass could be maintained when the restored pieces were sandwiched between new, clear mini-panes.

Since the drama of 1984, the Minster has seen a range of spectacular restoration schemes unrelated to the fire, including a £20million project centred on the rebuilding of the 600-year-old Great East Window - the largest single expanse of medieval stained glass in the UK, has ended at York Minster.

Restoration of the Minster is an ongoing project and the Minster has maintained a team of specialist crafts people, based at the building.

York Minster's blaze was attributed to a lightning strike, prompting a range of apocalyptic theories relating to God's possible involvement, especially linked to the consecration of the controversial figure David Jenkins as Bishop of Durham in the Minster days earlier.

Lord Mayor of York Keith Orrell has said he will be writing to the Mayor of Paris on behalf of the City of York.

Historians have also noted the similarities between the two fires.

TV history presenter Dan Snow said on Twitter: "It's overwhelming but remember that York Minster and Hampton Court burned in the 80s, Windsor Castle in the 90s and Cutty Sark in the 00s. Dresden's Frauenkirche, the Catherine Palace ... What we build, we can rebuild. Their essence endures."

Prayers for Notre Dame were said at the Compline service at York Minster on Monday night and will continue throughout Tuesday.

lThe country's ambassador to France said the UK stands ready to help with the rebuilding of Notre Dame Cathedral after the devastating fire in Paris.

Ed Llewellyn said he has been in touch with Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright about what assistance Britain can offer, saying the Government is looking into the matter.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Llewellyn said Notre Dame is a "building that Britain has a close association with" and the dramatic scenes from the fire will be something "people across Britain will be feeling very deeply about".

He pointed to the restoration of York Minster, which was hit by fire in 1984, as proof "these structures can be rebuilt".

Earlier on the same programme, French ambassador to the UK Jean-Pierre Jouyet said he wanted to "pay many thanks to British authorities, to British people and all the European and people of the world" who have offered condolences and pledged their support.

He said it will take many years and will be "very, very hard" to rebuild, calling it an "enormous" moment for Paris.

But Mr Jouyet also said there is a "sense of togetherness" in the city, adding that as he walked over a bridge near to the cathedral he had "never seen so many people, whatever their faith, wanting to be present".

As firefighters continue to work at the site, the fundraising programme has begun, with French tycoon Bernard Arnault and his luxury goods group LVMH having pledged 200 million euros (£173 million) towards the reconstruction of Notre Dame.

This follows a reported 100 million euro (£86 million) donation from another French billionaire, Francois Pinault.