A business owner has told how they 'lost everything' in a huge warehouse fire in Tameside.
Paul Barrett stored all of his products for his mini market business in the unit on Commercial Brow in Hyde, which has been left completely burnt out after a fire broke out on Monday night (April 25) . His wife, Carol, told the Manchester Evening News that he had been building up the stock and working on his business for 15 years.
Carol said 'every single thing' in the unit was damaged in the fire. Pictures taken inside the unit in the aftermath show a scene of devastation, with hundreds of items left charred and blackened.
READ MORE: Crime scene tape in place as huge blaze rips through warehouse late at night
Paul has business insurance, she said, but the pay out is not expected to cover all of the losses and may take up to a year to come through. The couple, both aged in their 60s, are now waiting for an update on what officers believe caused the blaze to break out.
Carol said: "It was like Aladdin's cave in there. He run's a mini market and had everything in there, toys, cleaning products, everything.
"He's been building it all up for 15 years. He managed to get down there to have a look after the fire crews had eventually stopped it all from burning out, it was all still cordoned off."
She added: "It's absolutely terrible, every single thing is gone. He is insured but we don't think it will cover everything that has been lost."
A fundraising page has been set up for Paul by a family friend in the hope that he can rebuild his business. Money raised will be used to cover any losses not covered by his insurance. You can donate to the page here.
The M.E.N understands that another unit - a flooring warehouse - was also damaged in the fire, which crews were first called to at around 11.30pm on Monday. Firefighters from across the region battled the blaze for more than six hours as it ripped through the units.
A platform was used to hose down the fire into the early hours of the morning. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said it was fully out by around 7am on Tuesday.
Pictures taken at the scene the day after showed a unit left completely destroyed. Crime scene tape was put in place around the area as officers carried out investigations.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said that a joint investigation with the fire service is ongoing. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said on Tuesday: "Just before 11:30pm last night (25 April), firefighters were called to reports of a fire at a commercial premise on Commercial Brow in Hyde. Fire engines from Hyde, Stalybridge, Ashton, Gorton, Offerton, Salford and Chadderton stations attended the incident, alongside a Hydraulic Platform from Oldham.
"Crews used breathing apparatus, a hose reel, jets and other equipment to extinguish the fire and were in attendance for approximately six and a half hours."
