A firm devastated by the floods is pulling out of Halstead - less than two months after moving to the town.

Bob Burton is shutting up shop after having to wade through two feet of water to get to his joinery business.

He says the devastation has forced him to return to his old premises in Holland-on-Sea.

"It is very disheartening," said Mr Burton, who moved his MDF Joinery firm to Factory Lane West in Halstead in early September.

"I've got no insurance and you can imagine what MDF is like once it gets wet. I had about £1,000 worth of radiator covers on the floor and the water was 18 inches to 2ft deep so all the displays are going in the skip now."

Mr Burton was about to take on an apprentice to help out at the one-man business.

"That's been shelved now," he said.

"I had a full order book up to Christmas - I don't know how I'll manage. But I'm not staying here - that's for sure."

He left his old premises because they were too small.

"It was a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire," he said.

"Now I'm just clearing up and shifting what's left out of here."

Mr Burton set up the firm 18 months ago.

By Chris Wilkin

Reporter's e-mail: chris_wilkin@thisisessex.co.uk

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