BUSINESSMEN and women and workers were counting the cost today (Tuesday, March 10) after a large fire ripped through a timber yard on a Teesside industrial estate .

As previously reported in The Northern Echo, firefighters were called to a timber yard on Bon Lea Industrial Estate in Thornaby on Monday night after a fire spread to a commercial car garage and a scaffolding yard.

It is estimated that about 20 tonnes of timber, offices and three cars were destroyed.

Firefighters arrived at the scene, at the rear of Wilson Street and Princess Street, at 10.04pm and five appliances from Middlesbrough, Stockton and Thornaby attended at its height.

A spokesman from the fire brigade said it was believed the fire started in some timber offcuts which had been burnt and then spread to two 40ft shipping containers which were used as offices and 20 tonnes of timber. The wind drove the fire into the other properties.

The early signs were that the fire was accidental.

“The best advice we can give is that if you do have open fire to make sure that it is extinguished before leaving site,” a spokesman said.