Strikes Stokesley partially reopens after devastating fire
Strikes in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, has opened a temporary shop as the business attempts to recover from a devastating blaze last month...
Manager Caroline Scaife, speaking in the Northern Echo newspaper praised the resilience of staff and the community spirit shown by nearby residents and customers after the blaze broke out on April 7.
he told the newspaper: "We managed to open last Saturday, trading mainly from the outside plant area - plants, compost, all the pots.
"We managed to set up the old store room as a temporary shop, which has got chemicals and bits and bobs in. Thankfully, we did get some customers in at the weekend and they were all for us and looking forward to us getting back to normal."
Reflecting on the night of the fire, Caroline said: "It was horrible. I got the phone call about 10.30pm and I just couldn't believe it. I drove straight across, because I live at Newton Aycliffe. When I got here all the staff were crying their eyes out. Everyone was just hugging each other, it was horrible."
Caroline said hopefully within four to six weeks a temporary building will be set up to allow for further items to be traded.
To read the full report on the Northern Echo website click here