By Saul Cooke-Black

STROUD Town councillor Vanessa Price was driving to a Gloucester Against Badger Shooting (GABS) meeting last night when she witnessed the blaze in Bakers Quay.

She said: "As I drove along Stroud Road in Gloucester at 6.45pm I could see a massive black cloud of smoke ahead of me and I could see it was coming from The Quay area.

"People were coming out of their homes and bars in the area to look at what was happening.

"I was very worried it was a fire at one of the occupied buildings in the Quay but as I drove over the flyover at the Peel Centre I could see it was one of the old derelict warehouses that are yet to be restored.

"The fire had just begun and there were no emergency services there yet.

"I parked on a road by the Art Collage next to the Rugby Fan zone which was obviously very busy with people, lots of people were calling 999 as we were concerned that no emergency services were there yet, and also the roads around the warehouse were still open, the heat from the building could be felt from where I was standing so I was very worried for people's safety.

"Within minutes, at about 7pm we started hearing sirens and seeing blue lights.

"The fire spread really quickly and when I left at 7.10pm half the building was alight and the roof was collapsing into the building.

"When I returned later on my homeward journey at 10pm the fire was out.

"Fortunately the main building was still standing, it was a beautiful old warehouse and I hope one day it can still be restored."