Historic mill gutted in blaze (with video)

THE former owner of an historic factory on the banks of the River Derwent spoke of his heartbreak as he watched it ripped apart by fire.

Warwick Harwood sold Bath Street Mill two years ago and was one of more than 100 who yesterday watched huge flames tear through the 150-year-old building.

Thick plumes of smoke from the fire, which began at 2.30pm, rose hundreds of feet in the air and could be seen from the M1.

As roaring flames shattered windows and tore holes in the tiled roof, hot ash rained down, causing some people watching to flee the scene.

The cause of the fire is not yet known. An investigation began today.

Mr Harwood, whose wedding reception was held on the mill's top floor, used the building as a base for his furniture business before selling it to a Nottingham developer.

The 42-year-old stood and watched with three of his children as 50 firefighters tackled the blaze.

He said: "I sold it two years ago and it's been standing empty ever since. I've been saying all along that, if something wasn't done with it, it would either fall down or it would burn down.

"There is a lot of my life in that building and I have some very happy memories.

"It was a very beautiful building and it's heartbreaking to watch it burn down."

Mr Harwood bought the factory, part of Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, after taking over Trio Contract Furnishers, a business started by his father 44 years ago.

He said: "At the height of the furniture business, we employed nearly 50 people and I think a lot of them would be very sad to see it burn down."

Scores of spectators flocked to streets near the factory and crowds gathered on a green off Darley Grove.

Lee Antrich, of Spinney Hill, Melbourne, rushed to Bath Street after spotting clouds of smoke from the city centre.

The 28-year-old said: "It was really dramatic and people were jumping whenever there was a bang or a crash.

"Some people were standing really close to the fence next to the factory but police cordoned the area off quite quickly."

Danielle Copper, 18, of nearby Otter Street, said: "I was standing at the edge of a path near the factory and it was baking hot.

"People were taking photos and videos of the fire until the ash starting pouring down on them."

Four fire crews from stations across the city were first at the scene but needed to call for back-up when the fire was at its height and they could not handle it alone.

Kam Basi, area manager for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The factory went up like a bonfire and beams were dropping from the roof – it was very difficult to fight.

"Much of the interior of the building featured wood more than 100 years old.

"At first, we were going to attack the fire by entering the building, but the water pressure in the area was not strong enough. We decided to focus water jets on it from the outside.

"The building has been totally lost with 100% fire damage."