One week after a large fire at the premises of Welsh border business S J Roberts Construction, the company’s managing director has provided an update on the aftermath.

Mike Sambrook said the company is “operating as normal” while they assess the damage on the fire at their industrial building at Lower Marton, near Welshpool.

The fire began on Wednesday evening, March 6, with at least eight fire crews from Shropshire and mid Wales being dispatched to tackle the blaze, which they spent all night fighting.

It was confirmed the next day that fortunately no one was hurt in the fire, which started from a biomass boiler and rapidly spread to other parts of the building.

Mr Sambrook commented on the aftermath of the fire and how S J Roberts Construction had been coping in the week since the incident.

He said: "Last week’s fire was confined to an area of the site and had minimal impact on our day-to-day operations and as expected in the immediate aftermath we are operating as normal. 

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“Of course, we are continuing to assess the full extent of damage to the facilities that were affected but would again express our thanks to the local community and our wider supply chain who have shown immense support over the past week.”

A spokesperson for Montgomery Fire station, who were first to reach the scene, said: “As the first appliance in attendance we were faced with a biomass boiler fully alight and spreading.

“Numerous appliances attended from Shropshire Fire and Rescue and Mid and West Wales Fire Rescue Service.”

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service added that it took several hours to control the fire, with the assistance from fire fighters from as far away as Telford.

Despite the size of the fire, the company was able to continue its operations even on the day after the blaze, which Mr Sambrook confirmed immediately after firefighters left the scene and handed the building back to its owners.

He said: “When the building is handed back to us, we will have a clearer picture of the full extent of the damage, however we are continuing to operate, and all sites will be running as normal with no disruption to progress."