A YORK kitchen-maker will be back in business tomorrow, less than a week after fire completely destroyed its furniture workshop.

Stephen Scammell, who owns Scammell Interiors, said it would be business as usual thanks to a flood of offers of help from local companies.

The workshop, on the Brockett Industrial Estate, near Acaster Malbis, was gutted in last Friday's "suspicious" blaze, which the fire service is still investigating.

Mr Scammell said he had been able to continue running the business from the showroom and administrative offices, based at Simbalk Lane, Bishopthorpe.

He said: "I just cannot believe how much help we are getting from local firms. Lots of specialist equipment has been lent to us, and the landlord at the Brockett estate has found us another workshop to use. The level of help cannot be emphasised enough. It really gives you faith in human nature."

Mr Scammell, who has been in business for 11 years, said: "Although we have lost material, we have another store. The business will only have been stopped for less than a week."

No-one was hurt in last week's blaze, which fire crews battled despite a lack of access to a nearby water supply.

Three fire engines at the scene were used to carry water from the River Ouse two miles away.

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