One of Wickford's oldest businesses was today preparing to "rise from the ashes" after being gutted in a blaze.

Workers were busy refitting Moore's shoe repairs and dry cleaning services in a £40,000 venture to get the business back on its feet.

The High Street firm - which is more than 70-years-old - was destroyed last month by a fierce fire believed to have been caused by a faulty piece of shoe-mending machinery.

It will be formally reopened on Tuesday by the daughter of its founder with free champagne or bucks fizz all day for customers.

Lee Baxter, managing director of the business and the third generation of his family to run it, said: "We are rising from the ashes.

"The shop has had a major refit after what was a major fire. We have two shops in Wickford and our other one was able to help ease the burden but it has been a difficult time. We are determined to make the store a success and stay in Wickford for another 70 years."

Fire crews from Basildon and Wickford managed to save the shop's structure.

Store workers grabbed shoes and clothes as they evacuated, but flames and thick smoke meant it was impossible to rescue everything.

The disaster forced father-of-two Mr Baxter, who owns ten shops across south Essex, to cut a family holiday short . He said: "When I turned up there were two fire engines and everything was knee-deep in water. It was pretty depressing."

The business was set up by Walter Moore in the 1920s and his daughter Margaret Marsh will cut the red ribbon for the reopening.

Mrs Marsh's late husband, Stan, a well-known local businessman, took over the firm after Mr Moore's retirement.

Mr Baxter has been running it for more than 20 years.

Happy - Lee Baxter proudly announces his shop's reopening after the blaze

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

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