A WOMAN whose business was left badly damaged following a fire would have ‘given up’ without the support from friends and family.

Beth Mearns has reopened her business – Beauty by Beth – following a fire in the high street area on Wednesday, September 4.

Beth told the Leader she left work that evening and when she received the call to say her business was on fire, she initially thought it was a joke.

The Leader:

Damage after the fire, pictured above and below

She said: “The neighbour smelt it so called the fire service, it could have been much worse.

“It’s a row of buildings so they all could have gone up if it wasn’t for his quick thinking. The fire service came and managed to isolate it in the kitchen.

“I also left the fire door open into the main room, so the smoke damage was unbelievable, the whole place was a mess. It was black.

The Leader:

“I felt scared. I had a 40-minute drive, and everything was going through my head. I just didn’t know what to expect.

“I thought it was a joke at first, I hadn’t been home long and when I got there I was devastated.”

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said two crews, one from Flint and one from Holywell, were alerted to the fire in the town's high street area at around 7.30pm.

The Leader:

The incident had concluded at around 9pm with the recorded cause being accidental activation.

Beth said the fire which caused her business, based on the Mews, to go up in smoke started from an electric hob.

She added: “I don’t use it, it’s electric, I don’t know how it’s switched on. I left something on there but it’s started up and gone up in smoke like a chimney.

The Leader:

Beth and John Mearns

“I didn’t know what to do, I was in shock. I’ve been working in Holywell all my life. Some of my clients have been with me for 15 years and I was thinking about them.

“I have a really good friend who offered me her room until I got back on my feet. I wouldn’t have been able to without her.

“It’s people like that, they gave my head a wobble. I was ready to give up. If it wasn’t for the messages of support I would have. My husband especially has worked tirelessly.

The Leader:

Pictured, above and below: Work has been done over the past couple of weeks

“My husband, friends and family rallied around to help us open. It’s not perfect but it’s clean.”

Beth said her business officially reopened on Wednesday morning, exactly two weeks on.

The salon owner said: “Luckily a lot of my stuff was salvageable. Everyone has been fantastic. The community support was just great. I think I just would have given up.

The Leader:

“My husband told me we would be open again in two weeks and I am surprised we managed it. It has scared the life out of me.

“We’ve worked non-stop over the past two weeks, but it’s made me more determined.

“I only had the place six months and at first I thought it was the universe trying to tell me something and maybe I should give up, but I think it’s made me stronger.

“If I can bounce back from this, I can bounce back from anything. My gratitude for everyone who’s supported me through this and helped is undying.”

The Leader: