AS prayers are said at York Minster throughout today for fire-ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral, an expert has warned that the iconic Paris landmark could take a decade to rebuild.

And a top Minster stained glass expert has already offered to help in efforts to restore the famous cathedral's windows.

Notre Dame could also remain untouched for at least a year while it is decided whether to keep the original oak structure, or replace it with steel.

Geoff Brayshaw, 62, who was one of 12 joiners who helped to restore gutted York Minster after the disastrous fire in July 1984, estimated that the reconstruction work could cost "hundreds of millions."

He said: "[The Minster's] vaulting underneath the roof was wooden, but Notre Dame is made out of stone - that's the main difference.

"So they will have to restore the stone instead of wood which could take some time.

"If it is just the roof, then we are looking at five to six years but, to be honest, it is likely to take even longer - up to ten years.

"We also had an in-house work force; before the fire we had four joiners, but in the year afterwards this went up to 12.

"I suspect they will need a big workforce which is what they will want to be concentrating on."

Sarah Brown, director of York Glaziers Trust, has already written to Parisian officials to offer her assistance in any restoration project, said a Minster spokeswoman.

The restoration of the Minster after the disastrous fire in July 1984, which severe damage, later estimated at a repair cost of £1 million, included a major project the the York Glaziers Trust to restore the badly damaged Rose Window.

Around 400 firefighters in Paris worked throughout the night and have now fully extinguished the catastrophic fire that has destroyed the building's entire wooden roof and its famous spire, sending it crashing to the ground.

Two police officers and one firefighter were injured during the blaze, which saw teams battle to save the structure of the 850-year-old gothic masterpiece and the priceless artefacts housed in it.

Investigators believe the fire was caused by accident, possibly as a result of restoration work.

As the fire raged, the Dean of York, the Rt Rev Jonathan Frost, joined the outpouring of support from around the world, tweeting: "Devastating scenes from Paris. Our friends in Parks and at Notre-Dame Cathedral are in our prayers and thoughts tonight. #NotreDame."

Meanwhile, Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Keith Orrell, said he would be writing to the French Ambassador and the Mayor of Paris on behalf of the city of York, expressing his shock and sympathy at the damage the fire had caused.

He said: "Watching the coverage from Paris of the fire at Notre Dame must remind everyone in York of the Minster fire 35 years ago.

"I'm sure we all have great sympathy for the people of Paris and France."