A Southend business is set to rise from the ashes as it prepares to reopen following a devastating fire.

Wholesale food and drink business boss, Philip Walters, has revealed how he plans to relaunch Montines Food Company after securing new premises.

It is ten weeks since Mr Walters, of Crowstone Avenue, Southend, received a late night telephone call at home to say his 7,000sq ft warehouse at Queensway, Southend, was alight.

He dashed to the scene to see flames shooting from the roof and within minutes the factory was gutted in the blaze which was tackled by more than 100 firefighters.

Around £500,000 of stock was destroyed by the inferno including 1,200 litres of spirits and other flammable foods which lay in the path of the fire.

It took crews from across the county more than 12 hours to damp down the inferno.

An appliance was kept on site for several days to make sure it did not flare up again.

The exact cause of the fire has yet to be pinpointed but it is thought an electrical fault sparked it.

The badly burnt building is still standing and its future now lies in the hands of insurers.

Mr Walters is now preparing to reopen his business on October 10 at a purpose-built 20,000 sq ft warehouse on Rochford's Purdeys industrial estate.

He said: "I'm absolutely delighted. The new premises are bigger and better than before and everyone, staff and customers alike, are just raring to go. What started out as a terrible nightmare has become a dream come true.

"The new business will be truly wonderful for everyone."

Montines staff have stuck by Mr Walters through the crisis and are busy putting up and filling shelves ready for the opening.

Mr Walters said: "It's back-breaking work but we'll get there."

By Keily Oakes

Reporter's e-mail: keily.oakes@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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