The owner of a burnt-out printing shop said he was devastated following a major fire at his business.

Andy Smith, 26, was speaking after fire destroyed the printing shop Solo Press in Woodside, Leigh. He said yesterday: "It's bad news. I've lost everything."

The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault at the back of the shop.

Mr Smith, of Daly's Road, Rochford, said: "They think the fire must have started at around 3am this morning. A man saw what he thought was steam coming off the roof, but the fire brigade didn't get called till around 8.30am.

"I got here at 9am, but it was out then. I am devastated, I don't know what I'm going to do."

Mr Smith has owned the shop for around four or five years. It is in a parade of shops, but the others were not damaged by the blaze.

Four fire appliances attended the blaze which has left the shop a charred ruin. One fire engine came from Leigh, two from Hadleigh and one from Rayleigh.

Damping down - firefighters tackle the blazing shop today

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

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