Company back in business after fire

The fire started with a loud explosion

Four months after a massive fire destroyed its factory, the Bartoline company in Beverley, East Yorkshire is back in business on a temporary site.

The fire broke out on Friday 23 May at Bartoline's premises at the Swinemoor industrial estate.

At its height, black smoke plumes billowed more than 2,000 feet into the air and could be seen 20 miles away.

Now Bartoline has taken over a unit on Annie Read Road in Beverley, about half a mile from their former site, safeguarding the jobs of 50 workers.

Council offer

The company is renting the 20,000 square feet unit from East Riding Council which bought it just two days before the fire.

The council intended using the space for its own purposes but offered it to Bartoline after the disaster.

Council leader Stephen Parnaby said: "The firm is a major employer locally producing goods for large DIY companies and exporting its products worldwide.

"We are delighted that the unit has safeguarded 50 jobs."

Batoline says it intends to rebuild on the site destroyed by fire and is also negotiating to acquire two adjacent factories.

The exact cause of the fire has not yet been established.