A BOATYARD that was devastated by fire should be fully up and running in around two months time, its owner said last night.

Peter Wilson, managing director of the Aldeburgh Boatyard Company in Fort Green, said work on a new workshop was planned to start today.

The building was completely destroyed by fire in April last year.

Despite the set back the business has continued more or less as usual.

Suffolk Coastal District Council gave permission for a new workshop and offices to be built in August last year.

Mr Wilson, who has been at the boatyard for more than 30 years, said work should start today with a view of completing the project by the middle of March.

“There’s not a lot to see at the moment,” he said. “Things have been progressing fairly slowly. It takes a long time to get everything organised.

“However hopefully there should be something visible soon. When it is complete we will be having a celebration.”

Around 20 firefighters from Aldeburgh, Woodbridge, Orford and Leiston attended the blaze, which started in a wood burner.

Employees at the yard bravely fought to douse the flames, managing to save two boats before crews arrived.

An area of Aldeburgh was also cordoned off as a precaution after two liquid propane gas cylinders were discovered close to the blaze.

The local community rallied round to help Mr Wilson in his hour of need, donating tools and offering use of workshops. “That support has continued,” he said.