COUNCIL leaders have pledged their support to a packaging company whose North-East plant was burned to the ground this week.

It is hoped that Northern Packaging Distributors Limited will recover from the huge blaze and its 40 employees can be back at work as soon as possible.

The factory, on Aycliffe Industrial Estate, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was gutted by the fire which started after staff and management left the building at about 5.15pm on Monday.

Sedgefield Borough Council's lead member for regeneration, Councillor Kester Noble, said: "I hope they get up and running again as quickly as possible.

"These medium-sized businesses are very important to the area and I really hope there are no negative job implications.

"I'm confident our business centre will give them the support they need to help get them on the road to recovery and back to business."

It is believed the company will arrange to have the building demolished once police and fire brigade investigators have given them the all clear.

At the height of the blaze, there were more than 40 fire- fighters battling the flames. Thick black smoke could be seen 30 miles away.

Two crews were still on site yesterday to hose down the smouldering building.

Neighbouring units had to be evacuated as fire crews fought to control the flames and traffic had to be diverted as fragments of the roof were blown on to the road. There were also a series of small explosions thought to be gas canisters used in the manufacturing of plastic packaging such as food wrapping.

Police from Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor were drafted in to evacuate neighbouring units, control traffic and to ensure the hundreds of people who turned up to watch the drama remained a safe distance away.

The road at the front of the building, St Andrew's Way, was expected to reopen this morning.

Early signs are that the blaze is not suspicious.

* Yesterday, we incorrectly called the company North East Packaging based on information we received and apologise for any inconvenience caused.