Talks continue with 50 Chester firms over relocations

Cheshire West & Chester Council said it is continuing to find suitable relocations for the businesses affected by the fire at the Chester Enterprise Centre on Thursday.

The council said it is using its headquarters in Nicholas Street as an 'emergency information centre' for the 50 firms previously based at the centre.

The council told Place it is still carrying out "contacting work" and did not disclose any information on where the firms are being moved to.

Steve Robinson, chief executive of Cheshire West & Chester Council, said: "Our priority is to keep these businesses going if it is possible to do so.

"To do that we will need to get some idea of their accommodation and IT requirements as soon as possible.

"Already the council's partners, including the University of Chester, are coming forward with offers of help in this respect."

The council said it is believed that around 50 businesses employing up to 200 people could have been affected by the blaze at the council-owned Enterprise Centre.

The Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service was called to a scene to tackle a fire in the first floor of the centre in Lightfoot Street at around 4am on Thursday.

The council said the site is being sealed off for several days at least to enable safety work and investigations by Police and Fire and Rescue Service.

On Friday morning demolition of the former warehouse block's gable ends will begin under the guidance of the council's building control officers.

• Any businesses affected by the blaze can call the council's emergency hotline on 01244 972732 or 01244 972792