A HEARTBROKEN business boss is picking up the pieces after an inferno ripped through a motorbike workshop on a Clacton industrial estate.

The two-story premises were gutted by the ferocity of the blaze which broke out at about 8.30pm on Wednesday.

At the height of the blaze ten fire engines, including an aerial ladder platform, were at the scene, in Stephenson Road.

It took more than three hours to put out the inferno, but amazingly firefighters managed to prevent the flames spreading to neighbouring businesses.

Steve Austin owns the unit and two next door.

He said: "I was here within half an hour of it being reported.

"It was horrific to see. The flames must have been 20ft high – half as high again as the building

"All we know is it took off at about 8.30pm and it was about 5am when when the fire brigade left.

He added: "We believe it started in the front of the premises.

"A guy who was working at another unit heard an explosion and saw it was on fire. I think it was the glass that blew out.

"When I came down at 11.30pm we thought we were going to lose the lot when the flames came through the roof, but the fire brigade did well to get it under control.

"We are really grateful to the fire service."

Business owner Jessica Hackshaw rents the wrecked unit and was starting the major clean-up operation yesterday.

"Obviously it's heartbreaking," she said. "It's down to the ground but everyone around here has been brilliant.

"They are a great bunch of people and have all got together. Everyone is helping out and we will do the best that we can."

Fire crews had continued to cool down hot spots throughout the night and left the scene early on yesterday morning.

The cause is not being treated as suspicious.