Back at work after factory fire

Much of the outside of the factory is severely damaged

More than 250 workers are back at work at a County Durham door factory, less than 24 hours after it was savaged by a major fire.

At its height, more than 60 firefighters tackled the fire at Henderson Doors in Bowburn, near Durham City.

The fire destroyed part of the production area of the factory, which makes sliding garage doors.

Bosses at the factory have praised the workforce, which reacted swiftly to the fire and have been eager to get production up and running again.

Managing director Steve Hubbard said: "I'm very proud of the workforce who have put their backs into getting us back into production.

"We have been able to quickly get most of our production facility up and running again the morning after the fire."

Homes evacuated

The cause of the fire remains unknown, but an investigation is continuing.

A spokesman for the Durham and Darlington Fire Brigade, said an internal firewall prevented the fire from spreading through the entire plant.

A dozen fire appliances were used to bring the fire under control.

Neighbouring factories and homes were evacuated after explosions were heard and there were fears for the safety of chemicals stored on site.

The Essex-based company, which makes internal and external sliding doors, set up it's northern manufacturing base in Bowburn in 1969.

The company employs almost 300 people in Bowburn and invested £10m in the plant in 1992, to make it one of the most advanced door manufacturers in the world.

In 1994 the firm closed its Romford plant and concentrated production in Bowburn.