A FIRE at a waste recycling firm has cost the company more than £25,000.

The blaze, at the depot for A1 Green Recycling at Sharpness docks, severely damaged a waste material sorting shed.

The company, which has been in operation for two-and-a-half years, sorts waste from local building and construction firms.

Fred Booy, who owns A1 Green Recycling, said no one was injured in the fire and no machinery had been involved.

He said: "We had a driver come in and tip. Then 10 minutes later another guy came in to buy a trailer. They went outside to see it, walked round the canteen and saw the smoke.

"I went over to it with a truck and threw soil and mud on to the fire but it got too much for me – too much fire and too much heat."

Mr Booy said despite being able to repair the damaged shed the fire, which happened last Monday, January 9, meant the company could not operate for four days and did not reopen until last Friday.

He added that waste already in the yard waiting to be sorted had also been damaged. Mr Booy said he believes the fire cost the company £25,000.

He said: "We had to pay to get rid of most of the waste material that was here. Usually we sort it and sell it on to different premises but it all had to go straight to the tip and because of the water they used it weighed more."

But he added: "We’re still here and we are still smiling."

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue was called to the scene at 11.50am last Monday morning after staff noticed smoke billowing from the shed.

The fire service sent four appliances from Wotton-under-Edge and Dursley, as well as Stroud.

According to Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue four main line jets, one hose reel and 12 sets of breathing apparatus were used to extinguish the blaze. Fire crews remained at the scene for several hours and Bride Road was closed for two hours.

The fire service said the fire was accidental and was not being treated as suspicious.