A FIRE at a bakery has forced the closure of a family firm's shops across the region.

Peter's Cathedral Bakers' 70 shops were closed yesterday and will be shut again today after the despatch area of the company's bakery was gutted on Sunday night.

Five fire engines, including an aerial ladder platform, were called to the plant on the Dragonville Industrial Estate, Durham City.

The fire did not spread into the baking area, but the building was filled with smoke, forcing the firm to abandon its production.

About 30 of the plant's 160 staff, working on the night shift, were evacuated safely.

The damage, which included some box vans, and the cost of lost sales, is expected to run to tens of thousands of pounds.

Managing director Richard Knowles said: "We are nowhere near burnt to the ground. About 15 per cent of the building has been gutted.

"We closed the shops - hopefully we'll be back open on Wednesday - because there was so much smoke in the premises. We had to bin everything.

"It is the best time of the year for us as well. It could have been a lot worse if it been next week, but it is bad enough.

"I'm sure we'll come through it stronger. It has brought us together."

Mr Knowles said they had a full staff in yesterday and they had cleaned everything up.

The cause of the blaze is not known and Mr Knowles said forensic experts would be examining the plant for clues today.