A factory manager had to tell his boss his business had nearly burned down just a day into his summer holiday.
Bearer of bad news - Neil Moring Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL
Chris Morris was sunning himself in the Canary Islands when Neil Moring, manager at C&B Services phoned to tell him a blaze had destroyed two machines at his timber moulding business in Redstock Road, Southend.
Mr Moring said: "He was a bit upset is the best way to describe it. He came back on Saturday to sort out the insurance."
A spark from a wood-turning machine caused a fire in a dust extraction duct. Mr Moring said: "I was in the room when it happened. It went up quick."
Three members of staff were evacuated, two machines worth more than £2,000 each were destroyed and the roof of the extractor room was badly damaged.
Lathe work cannot restart until a new extraction system is installed, hopefully in the next week.
Published Monday July 26, 2004
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