����ý

A large fire has badly damaged a bakery in Wrexham.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews were called to Village Bakery on Coed Aben Road, Wrexham Industrial Estate, just after 08:40 BST.

The fire - which started in the production area of the building - was brought under control by early afternoon.

In a statement, the bakery said its staff were safe and thanked emergency crews for their quick response.

Pictures tweeted by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service showed the roof had been badly damaged by the blaze.

Director Robin Jones said: "This is a very difficult day in the history of the Village Bakery, but we will bounce back and be stronger than ever thanks to the fantastic team working here.

"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.

"Our primary concern is the wellbeing of our staff and we are grateful that everybody at our Wrexham bakery is safe and well.

"When the blaze has been brought under control we will assess the scale of the damage and we will do everything we can to assist the fire service to establish the cause."

He said the company's three other bakeries were working as normal and the company was working hard to mitigate any disruption for customers.

The family business was founded in Coedpoeth, Wrexham, by a father and son in 1964.

The fire service sent three crews, eight engines and an aerial ladder platform at the height of the blaze and it said neighbouring properties should keep doors and windows closed.

Richard Fairhead, assistant chief fire officer for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said it was a "very large fire - thankfully we don't usually have fires of this size in north Wales".

He said crews had faced difficulties in the production area at the back of the bakery - where the fire started - as the metal roof had fallen into the fire.

He added they had to "work carefully to remove the metal work to extinguish the fire correctly".

Jordan Hollingsworth, who works at a vehicle leasing firm across the road from the bakery, said: "It was a small bit of smoke at 8:45/8:50 [but] within about five to 10 minutes there was thick black smoke coming over the top."

Anthony Statham, who lives near the scene, said: "It was engulfed with flames."

He added the smoke "probably could be seen for miles" and said the fire reached about 15 to 20m (65ft) in the air.