Andy Morgan, business development manager, and Justin Bartlett, store manager, prepare Gladwells Pet and Country Store, formerly Copdock Country Store, to reopen after a ram-raid and fire destroyed the old store in February.

COPDOCK: Staff at a business which was left counting the cost of a devastating blaze are today celebrating as they unveil their new building.

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It has been almost ten months since ram-raiding thieves caused more than £300,000 of damage when they broke into the building in Copdock Mill, smashing through the side of the building with what police believed to be a Land Rover Defender.

Once inside, they tore a 185kg safe from the ground and made off with it – but not before setting light to the premises.

Today, managing director Simon Gladwell will officially open the new store, after staff united during a time of “great difficulty”.

“We are really pleased to be completely back in business,” he said. “It has been 43 weeks since the fire and it has been a time of great difficulty, but the support of the customers and staff have been absolutely fantastic.

“The new building stands exactly where the former building stood and it is the same blueprint.

“In total, including replacement of stock, it will have cost us about £500,000 – all for these thieves to steal a safe with just over £1,000 in it.”

Six fire crews were called to the blaze which engulfed the Copdock Country Stores building, in Old London Road, Copdock.

Crews were alerted to the fire in the early hours of Wednesday, February 2, as the flames tore through the site’s office and staff room causing substantial building.

No- one has been arrested for the crime, but police say it is still an open investigation.

A spokesman for Suffolk Constabulary renewed their appeal for anyone with information to come forward.

If you can help police with their inquiries contact officers on 01473 613500.

n Are you pleased to see Copdock Mill back on track? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or send an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk