Icon will rise from ashes in 5 years, vows Macron

EMMANUEL Macron last night vowed to rebuild Notre Dame within five years – and insisted the disaster was an opportunity to make the cathedral ‘more beautiful’.

The French President’s aim to complete the restoration within such a short timeframe was at odds with some experts’ estimates that the project would take decades.

‘We will rebuild Notre Dame even more beautifully and I want it to be completed in five years. We can do it,’ Mr Macron said. The president has yet to pledge any funds towards the bill, which is likely to be in excess of £1billion.

The French government had previously been reluctant to invest money into refurbishing Notre Dame, despite repeated warnings about its decrepit condition, stumping up less than £2million a year for France’s most visited tourist site. Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, yesterday called on EU member countries to donate funds.