It's business as usual after blaze damages Bognor factory

They agreed to work emergency shifts to overcome the effects of the blaze which damaged 150,000 worth of equipment at Sovereign Rotating Machines.

The fire began in a cleaning machine in one of the company's two units along Durban Road. Its effects also damaged two machines in the nearby production area. Each machine is worth about 50,000.

The firm's 85 employees make more than 100,000 starter motors and alternators a year for motor factories and distributors around the country.

It also produces ignition leads and electronic coils.

Managing director Richard Welland said: "This fire will not affect our day-to-day business. We can't let it.

"I have got a very good management team and the staff have been very good.

"Key shift staff are coming in late and working late so we can keep our production where it should be.

"I don't know how long it will be before we get back to normal working, though I hope it will only be a short period."

The company is the UK's biggest producer of the automotive products.

The blaze began at about 6pm last Saturday. No one was in the building. It is believed a passing police patrol was alerted by the factory's automated fire alarm.

Smoke was coming from the single storey building as the first of the some 40 firefighters arrived at the scene.

The fire was located at the rear of the premises. It was a small blaze but the presence of four propane cylinders, two acetylene cylinders and one oxygen cylinder raised the prospect of a far more serious blaze.

The cylinders, which were not involved in the fire, were removed into the open air by the firefighters to enable them to cool down.

A range of dry powder, carbon dioxide and foam extinguishers was used to put out the flames.

It took an hour and 50 minutes before firefighters were satisfied that the premises were safe. As well as Bognor, they had been called in from Chichester, Littlehampton, Haywards Heath and Shoreham as a precaution.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation by the fire experts but it is believed to have been accidental.

Mr Welland, who was one of the firm's four joint founders in 1996, explained: "I don't think anyone has any idea how the fire started.

"There was no sign of a break in. I think it is just one of those things that something has ignited in one of the machines.

"Perhaps it was a little bit warm. I just don't know."