Massive blaze guts family timber firm

Crews were alerted to the inferno at Stagecraft Displays in Llaithddu, near Newtown, shortly before 6am on Wednesday. Firefighters finally left the scene at 1am today.

The factory was mostly destroyed by the fire, although the shop on the same yard was unaffected. No-one was injured.

An investigation has been launched to determine how the fire started, and fire service officials have said the building has been left in an 'unstable' condition. Staff at the firm have said they are in the process of assessing the damage and hope to restart production next week.

Six fire engines and two water carriers from Newtown, Montgomery, Llanidloes and Llandrindod Wells were called to tackle the blaze. They used a water curtain device to douse the flames as well as four hose reel jets, three main jets, small gear, an environmental grab pack and water relay techniques.

Stagecraft is a family business which designs and manufactures timber-based shop fittings and retail merchandising displays.

The factory is based on a working livestock farm and creates wood products which includes items for shop fittings and retail merchandise displays.

It employs around 30 people.

A spokesman for Mid Wales Fire and Rescue said the building had been left in an 'unstable' condition following the fire.

Tom Davis, managing director, said: "We are assessing the situation and we are in the process of restarting production in the next week."

A woman who did not want to be named said she saw the blaze at 6.30am when she woke up and looked out the window.

She said: "It was a massive inferno. There were really big flames. The factory there is all wood.

"There is still smoke there and there is police car."

She said she had not seen a fire at the factory before.

"The fire engines were there when I looked out at 6.30am," she said.

She said she had looked out of the window throughout the day to see if it was still alight.

"It was desperate," she said.

County Councillor John Brunt said: "It is a very well respected business and is highly thought of in the county.

"It is a devastating blow for the people in the area. Our sympathy is with the company and the workers."

Dyfed Powys Police was unavailable for comment.