Local builder Sanders Frith-Brown has denied he is trying to make money out of a project to fix a severely damaged Bermuda-style limestone roof in the British Caribbean territory of Turks and Caicos.

He is backing an appeal for funding from the Bermuda National Trust but the charity has said restoration of a property overseas is not in their remit.

And an estimate by brothers Ian and Michael Dunn, who own the White House, sees Mr. Frith-Brown getting $750 a day for his 15 days work.

However speaking from Australia, Mr. Frith-Brown said he would do the work for free as well as pay his own air fare and that of Bermudian stone mason Larry Mills who will join him.

Asked about the National Trust's reaction, Mr. Frith-Brown said: "I will still go down and consider making a donation myself if the Dunns can't raise the money. A number of individuals in Bermuda know enough about the importance of this house so I am sure there are others who will support it."

Mr. Frith-Brown said the Bermuda-style building in the islands 575 miles southeast of Miami, are an important link to Bermuda's past.

He said hundreds of Bermuda families had lived in Turks and Caicos when the salt trade was at its height before the advent of steamships which could move cargo quickly cut the need for salting meat to preserve it. Much of the stone on the roof came from Bermuda as ballast.

Historian William S. Zuill said: "Historically speaking it would be well worth while trying to preserve this. It would be a shame if it went down or the roof had to be replaced with corrugated iron."