Yorkshire business reopens after fire destroyed factory
A family-run business in Haworth which lost its original factory in one of the largest fires the village has ever seen has reopened.
The blaze in August 2010 gutted the historic Ebor Mill, which had been a landmark in the West Yorkshire village for more than a century.
Airedale Springs, which makes springs, invested in a new factory and kept all the existing staff in employment.
The new facility has been blessed by the Bishop of Bradford.
Employee Trevor Woods who has worked at the factory all his life said the fire devastated the employees.
"Most of us who worked there were in tears just to see it go up like that," he said.
At the height of the blaze about 100 firefighters tackled the fire at the six-storey building. Some homes were evacuated.
Nobody was injured in the fire but the Victorian mill was so badly damaged it had to be demolished.
Tim Parkinson, chairman of the company, said he was thankful to the people who came to the help of the firm so it could continue production, including rival companies.
He said: "It's been very difficult but we've got every confidence.
"We've got the building, we've got the kit, we've certainly got our employees, which was always our big intention to keep on going, and here we are."