PRODUCTION of a fire-hit Durham bakery firm's entire range will be up and running within a month, company bosses have pledged.

All 71 Peter's the Bakers stores, from Northumberland to North Yorkshire, are pencilled in to re-open on Monday, May 24, only 29 days after fire swept through the company's Dragonville Industrial Estate bakery and office complex, on Sunday, April 25.

The Durham company has also pledged that its long-term future remains in the city, despite the plant being left beyond use.

Confirmation was given at a meeting of senior staff that the jobs of the entire 700-strong workforce, including 150 production and administrative workers from the fire-ravaged Dragonville site, are safe.

There were fears for the future of the family-run firm in the aftermath of the blaze, which smouldered for several days after the outbreak.

Fifty workers safely evacuated the plant, but huge plumes of black smoke could be seen up to 30-miles away as 12 fire crews fought to control the blaze.

Inquiries into the cause of the blaze are continuing and police say that arson cannot be ruled out.

"We have to speak to a large number of staff to see if they can help us and we have a further site visit planned this week," said a Durham force spokesman. "It is likely to be a lengthy and complex investigation because of the scale of the blaze."

Since the fire Peter's shops have remained closed while contingency measures were made to resume production.

Round-the-clock efforts are being made to transfer production to the disused former Hibernia foods factory, on Peterlee's North-East Industrial Estate.

But the move to Peterlee is to be a temporary measure while the Dragonville base is re-built and expanded, with the ultimate aim of reopening in a year's time.

News of the plans were announced to relieved Peter's shop and line managers at the Bowburn Hall Hotel, near Durham.

Peter's fleet of bakery delivery vans are being requisitioned to move in hired ovens and other production equipment to try to meet the May 24 target.

Retail sales and business development manager Alan Dixon was greeted with applause when he confirmed no jobs would be lost and staff would continue to be paid during the post-fire lull in production.

"It's important to allay concerns so they know they can meet all their financial commitments, said Mr Dixon. "It's manna from heaven to have a facility like the old Hibernia bakery available to move into, to recommence trading as soon as possible."