THE BOSS of a packaging firm that was wrecked by fire has pledged his factory will rise from the ashes.

Northern Packaging Distributors Ltd, on Aycliffe Industrial Estate, County Durham, has already identified a new building on the same estate and hopes to move as soon as possible.

The factory was gutted by the fire earlier this month, which started after staff and management left the building.

Last night, managing director Walter Nattrass spoke of his determination to get the business back on its feet.

He said that despite the horror of seeing the company's manufacturing plant go up in flames, he never doubted its survival.

Mr Nattrass: "I was stood watching 20 years of hard work going up in front of me.

"But anyone who knows me knows that I wouldn't consider closing down.

"We can keep going at a small capacity and the insurance has made sure the staff are paid.

"We are looking at another unit on the estate and, if we secure that, it will take about 16 weeks to replace machinery and we will build it back up to become fully functional as soon as possible."

The company, which makes and supplies packaging such as plastic food containers, has been able to keep its 40 staff in work at its smaller unit on Welbury Way, Aycliffe Industrial Estate.

Mr Nattrass praised the workforce, clients and Sedgefield Borough Business Services for supporting the company through tough times.

He said: "This is a setback but we're getting lots of support and we're a good team so will recover.

"The biggest problem is how much business we lose in the interim. Customers and suppliers have been very understanding but they have businesses to run as well."

The building destroyed by last Monday's blaze is expected to be demolished and rebuilt in about 12 to 15 months.

Police and fire forensic teams have completed examinations of the site and are not treating the fire as suspicious.