Community rallies after fire damages businesses

The owner of a commercial building that caught fire in Ross-on-Wye on Friday has said people in the town have "really come together" in support of those affected.

Cantilupe Chambers, locally referred to as Longfords, is home to four businesses: Gwyn James Solicitors, Kings Accountancy Ltd, the St Michael's Hospice Charity shop and the Ross-on-Wye MOT Centre, where it is believed the blaze started.

Nick Jenkins has owned the building since 1982 and said: "Everybody's had great support - it's the benefit of living in a small market town."

He added: "We've had lots of messages... it's great that we live in small community where everybody wants to help."

No one was badly injured in the blaze which started at about 17:00 BST on Friday, although workers were still on-site.

In a post on social media on Monday, the owner of the MOT Centre, Rob Tuckwell said:

"At about 5pm, an electrical appliance exploded with one member of staff being in very close vicinity.

"Luckily all four members of staff who were in the building escaped, only one required further hospital treatment and has today been discharged and is back at home."

Business owner Michelle Kings, whose accountancy firm is based in the building, said it was starting to dawn on her how much work there would be to deal with.

"I'm not sure what's going to face us when we can get back into the office.. there's clearly a lot of smoke in there... so there'll probably be a lot of smoke and water damage.

"[I'm] just really thankful that no one was hurt," she added, having herself left work before the fire broke out.

St Michael's Hospice confirmed its shop would remain temporarily closed while further assessments and safety checks were carried out.

In a statement, the charity said: "At the time of the incident, the shop was preparing to close for the day, with no customers inside the building.

"Two St Michael's team members safely evacuated the building when the alarm was raised.

"No-one in the shop was injured, and the team should be commended for their resilience in difficult circumstances."

The building's owner said he'd been on the phone to the insurance company all weekend and that he would do the best he could to help the tenants cope.

"They've been amazing over the last few days in coping with the problems, they've done it with great humour.

"Nobody was hurt, which is the most important thing. As long as nobody was injured, we can deal with a building going on fire, it can be rebuilt."

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