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Not far from where she sits, large growths of dry rot fungus are feeding off the floorboards.

Unlike wood’s natural enemies, which include moisture, dry rot, fungus and insects, substances such as airborne salts, dirt and pollutants can harm the long-term quality of Knotwood’s powder-coated film.

Sam is trained to detect active dry rot fungus and "the odd doughnut or two", Mr Monaghan says.

Armillaria melleus and Polyporus annosus are examples of parasitic forms which attack and destroy living trees, while Merulius lacrymans is the well-known “dry rot” fungus.

The old “Resistance” frigate, which went down in Malta harbour, remained under water for some months, and on being raised was found to be entirely freed from the dry rot fungus that had previously covered her; similarly, in the ship “Eden,” the progress of rot was completely arrested by 18 months’ submergence in Plymouth Sound, so that after remaining a year at home in excellent condition she was sent out to the East Indies.