A major fire has broken out today (19 August) at The Village Bakery factory in Wrexham.

At least eight fire-fighting vehicles from North Wales Fire & Rescue Service have attended the blaze at the factory on Coed Aben Road, on an industrial estate in Wrexham, Wales, after the alarm was raised at 8.41 this morning. Two aerial ladder platforms were used to put water onto the fire from above.

A one-storey production area was reported alight, with fire spreading to an adjoining office block, the fire service stated at 9.40am.

Members of the public were told to keep away from the incident, with those in neighbouring properties told to keep doors and windows closed.

Village Bakery, which employs more than 450 staff and supplies customers ranging from independents to national retailers, said all of its staff were "safe and well".

Managing director Robin Jones said the firm’s three other bakeries were operating as normal, and they were working hard to mitigate any disruption in supplies to customers.

“We are grateful to the fire service for their prompt response this morning and they are currently working hard to tackle the blaze to bring it under control,” he added.

“Our primary concern is the wellbeing of our staff and we are grateful that everybody at our Wrexham bakery is safe and well. That is due in no small part to the fact that our emergency procedures kicked in and worked effectively.”

Jones added that when the blaze had been brought under control, the company would assess the scale of the damage and do all it could to help the fire service to establish the cause.

The business was founded by Robin’s father Alan Jones, and his father, after they bought a bakery in Wrexham in 1964.

It has won many industry awards, with Alan Jones last year recognised for his Outstanding Contribution to the Baking Industry at the 2018 Baking Industry Awards.

The business has also seen major investment, including the creation of a new dedicated gluten-free bakery.

One Twitter user took the below drone footage of the fire this morning (Used with permission): 

That’s a big fire! What a way to start the week. #Wrexham pic.twitter.com/Ietwfg70Sg

— Steff (@SteffMet) August 19, 2019

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