WORK will stop at Andrew Jones Pies in tribute to the tragic death of David Cole whose funeral is today.

Company Sales Manager Graham Easby told the Examiner: “No production will happen and none of our shops will open as a mark of respect for David.

“Members of staff who wish to go to his funeral will be free to do so.”

Supervisor Mr Cole, of Salterhebble, Halifax, died in an explosion at the factory on Old Leeds Road on April 10.

The father-of-two’s funeral will be held in Halifax today.

Baker and father-of-one Marcus Cartwright, 24, of Crosland Moor, suffered broken ribs, a burst eardrum, bruising to his spine and minor burns.

Mr Easby said Marcus was recovering well at Leeds General Infirmary.

“He has had an operation on his spine and is regaining movement in his legs and arms.

“He has been moved to a normal ward from the high-dependency unit.”

The business has regained 10% of production since opening its Brighouse shop last week.

Work is taking place in the bakery behind the shop at Bethel Street.

People can also buy produce at the Marsh shop which is now up and running again.

It is hoped the company will be back to 75% production within two to three weeks, and up to 100% once facilities at a new factory in Lockwood have been installed.

Mr Easby said: “We’ve now secured the premises at Queen’s Mill in Lockwood.

“We’re in the process of fitting out the building in a similar fashion to the previous one.

“All staff still have their jobs, although two do not feel in the position to come back to work as of yet.

“We have offered all staff counselling if they want it.”

The old factory building on Leeds Road has had a prohibition order placed on it by the Health and Safety Executive.

Building surveyors and structural engineers are currently in the process of assessing the building’s safety.

Mr Easby said: “No one can go back in to the building until it is made safe.”

“Therefore investigations into what happened at the factory are on hold.”

The cause of the explosion appears to have been gas-related and is not being treated as suspicious.

It is thought the blast may have been linked to one of the industrial ovens that was destroyed.

Andrew Jones is an award-winning pie maker with a million-pound annual turnover, supplying butchers, farm shops, sandwich shops and other retailers.