A MULTI million pound laundry service has risen from the ashes nearly a year after being devastated by fire.

Snow White Laundries faced a £1m repair bill after a blaze broke out at its Pontypool premises on December 3 last year.

The 45-staff company continued to operate by shifting some of its production to its Cardiff base as well as introducing new shift patterns.

The firm had to wait about six months before roof repairs were completed and new machinery was delivered.

Yesterday [Nov 16], the family run company praised staff for ensuring the business stayed afloat in the wake of the accidental fire.

Promotions manager Joanne Mulcahy, 32, said: “The staff were really good, they were really flexible.

“Some came from Pontypool to Cardiff and some staying in Pontypool to help out with the distribution.

“Staff were instrumental in helping the business to stay afloat.”

The company supplies and washes its own linen to hotels, restaurants and B&Bs throughout South Wales.

Thousands of linen were destroyed in the blaze at its premises in Clarence Road in December.

But the company was able to deliver more stock immediately after the fire meaning business continued to run as normal.

Some of the 20 or so Pontypool staff went to work to their unit in Dumballs Road, Cardiff, and the company introduced a two-shift pattern while the repairs were carried out.

New equipment including dryers and an industrial washing machine were delivered to Pontypool and the business was back on its feet in summer 2015.

Mrs Mulcahy said around £1m was spent on repairs and the costs were covered by their insurance.

She said the fire service had found the blaze, which spread to a third of its premises, was accidental but could not pinpoint how it had started.

Mrs Mulcahy added that the business launched in New Inn in 1968 had later expanded to Pontypool and Cardiff and had a turnover of about £2m a year.