A shipwright today vowed to honour his commitments after a fire destroyed his business.

David Patient, who runs his specialist restoration firm from workshops on Fullbridge Quay, Maldon, said he was devastated by the blaze early on Saturday morning.

But he said he would continue as best he could.

The fire destroyed four businesses, including a firm making studio furniture close to the site of the Downs housing development.

Crews from Maldon were alerted at about 3.15am on Saturday and were joined by firefighters from Witham, Tiptree, South Woodham Ferrers and a rescue tender from Colchester.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus took just over an hour to bring the blaze under control using water from the River Blackwater which was at high tide. Crews remained on standby damping down hotspots until late Saturday afternoon.

David Nash, of The Downs, who lives opposite the workshops, called 999 along with a houseboat owner and saw the blaze take hold.

He said: "We were woken to the sound of explosions and there was a smell of acetone and resin. The firemen did really well until the others arrived."

The smell of smoke woke up several nearby residents but no homes were evacuated and no-one was injured in the blaze.

Mr Patient said today: "I've lost everything - a 20-year collection of tools, stock, drawings, models and research material - it has all has gone.

"I will look to the future. It's a matter of time now really and a case of if and when."

Mr Patient, 51, added the close-knit wharf community were pulling together and he has been offered support and loans of specialist tools and equipment.

He added: "Everybody had been extremely good. We will carry on with our commitments even if it is somewhere else and with borrowed tools."

Maldon station officer Martin Cable said the timber building would have to come down and added further investigations into the cause of the blaze were still going on.

Hesaid: "The fire was always going to be contained but it was well alight initially because of the nature of the businesses involved and there was quite a lot of thinners and paints about."

"It is probably 50 per cent electrical fault and possibly 50 per cent malicious ignition," he added.

Maldon police, who are investigating the fire, are keen to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious near Fullbridge Wharf at about 3am on Saturday. They should call 01621 852255 with any information.

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