POPULAR pie maker Andrew Jones has taken another step towards rebuilding his business following a fatal factory explosion.
The award-winning Huddersfield butcher has opened a new production unit in Lockwood.
It is just over one month since a huge gas explosion ripped through the company’s former site on Old Leeds Road.
Seven men were working at the factory when the blast brought down part of the roof and started a fire just after 5am on Good Friday.
Supervisor David Cole, 37, died in the explosion, which is still being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive.
Business was put on hold for five days before production started at an old bakery behind its shop on Bethel Street in Brighouse.
Now Andrew Jones has opened two units at Queens Mill off Albert Street in Lockwood with plans for more.
“It’s a significant milestone,” said sales manager Graham Easby.
“All the staff are truly amazed that they are back in production to this level in such a short space of time.
“It’s not necessarily what they would like to be doing, but at the end of the day life goes on and the clock carries on ticking. They talk about David and the laughs they had, but they are moving on and the business has to move on.”
Production is up to about 30% of what it had been before the explosion, but there are plans to expand at the Queens Mill site.
The Brighouse plant has been mothballed again following the start of production in Lockwood.
Mr Easby added: “We’ve been running at less than 10% and supplying our own shops and local wholesalers who have been such a support.
“Generally speaking, staff have come to terms with what happened and most of them have handled it very well.
“Understandably there are one or two who are still traumatised from the event, but all but two of them are back.”
As well as Mr Cole, who lived in Halifax, 24-year-old Marcus Cartwright from Crosland Moor was injured in the accident.
He suffered broken ribs, a burst eardrum, bruising to his spine and minor burns. Mr Easby said he was still in hospital, but recovering well.
“He’s still a bit confused by what happened, but they’re getting him back on an even keel,” he added
“It’s difficult to look back with any sort of clarity. I can remember the day vividly, but I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.”
Gas engineers investigated a leak on Old Leeds Road last Friday, but a spokeswoman for United Utilities said it was unrelated to the factory explosion.
