A PONTYPOOL factory ravaged by fire has risen from the ashes to unveil major expansion plans that could see 32 new jobs created and its turnover triple within three years.

Brick Fabrication Ltd has made a remarkable recovery since the accidental blaze tore through its premises on North Pontypool Industrial Estate last July.

The company, which makes brick chimneys and arches for UK house builders, is to buy six new factory units on the industrial estate in an expansion worth nearly three quarters of a million pounds.

The expansion, backed by the Welsh Government, will allow the 61-staff firm to create a “centre of excellence” for the design, manufacture and sale of its prefabricated products.

And soon the company, which was forced to continue production in surrounding units after the blaze, will be able to move back into its original premises.

Company director John White said: “It shows the resilience of the business.

“The rebuilding work has started. We’re hoping to be back in the original building by the end of March.

“In the interim we have worked in smaller factory units.

"Torfaen council have been extremely helpful in encouraging us to be able to continue as within a week of the devastating fire we were back in production.”

Mr White added that the company had received a Welsh Government grant which would facilitate its expansion plans.

This week Torfaen council cabinet gave the company the go-ahead to buy six units on the estate for £325,000.

The firm has two factories, one in Stoke-on-Trent which has 16 staff, and the other in Pontypool, which currently has 45 employees.

The new factory units will give the company around 15,000 square feet of extra space and two acres of land.

The company also does work with the engineer and business schools at Cardiff University.