A VETERINARY practice has reopened its doors six weeks after “significant” fire damage forced it to close.

Firefighters prevented a disaster on January 19 when a piece of electrical equipment which had been left charging overnight caught fire in Vets4Pets, Colchester.

About 20 per cent of the retail unit was in flames after the blaze started at the site in the rear of the Pets at Home store on the Colne View Retail Park in Cowdray Avenue shortly after 11pm.

Three fire crews rushed to the scene, two from Colchester who are also based just yards away, and one from Clacton.

Gazette: Aftermath - the fire damageAftermath - the fire damage

Read more: Firefighters tackle 'challenging' fire at Colchester retail park overnight

Fortunately, no pets or people were harmed and the fire was extinguished more than an hour later at 12.15am.

The practice has now reopened six weeks after the incident which it says caused “significant” damage to both its equipment and facilities.

Since the fire, vets and nurses from the Colchester site have been working with neighbouring Vets4Pets practices to continue providing a vital service to their most critically ill patients.

Local practices including St Runwald’s Veterinary Surgery in Colchester also stepped in to support the vets and ensured patients continued to have access to important prescriptions.

Gazette: Fresh look - the practice after repairsFresh look - the practice after repairs

It was impossible for the practice to operate due to extensive repairs to fire damaged kennels, doors and walls, as well as the replacement of all medication, computers, air-conditioners and blood machines.

Dr Don Crawford, practice owner and veterinary surgeon at Vets4Pets Colchester, said: “We know our colleagues and clients alike were shocked by the fire at our practice and we’d like to say a huge thank you to them for their patience and understanding during this time.

“We’re also incredibly grateful to the local practices, Vets4Pets Chelmsford, Vets4Pets Maldon and Vista Vets, who so generously allowed us to use their facilities and provided us with a lifeline to continue supporting pets and their owners.

“We immediately started work on repairing the fire damage so we could return home to our practice and now we’re reopen we can’t wait to welcome everyone back with open arms.”