Firefighters fought the blaze last Thursday at East Anglian Land Surveys LTD, in Red Willows Industrial Estate, Finborough Road, but they were unable to save the business.

The office, including thousands of pounds of surveying equipment, a mobile home and a portable cabin were destroyed in the fire last week.

The company's owners, Jeff Bate, 55, of Bennett Avenue, Elmswell, and Robert Mullins, 54, of Tavern Street, Stowmarket, have been devastated by the fire and they are now trying to rebuild their 18-year-old business.

Mr Bate said: "I was devastated and shocked when I found out what had happened, but we are just so grateful nobody was injured.

"A lot of information was lost in the fire, but our customers have been very understanding and are willing to wait for us to get up and running, rather than going to another company."

Mr Mullins said: "I was at the scene and it was absolutely engulfed by flames and the fire crews couldn't get it under control.

"We are all feeling gutted, but we are now looking forward to getting back on track."

Fire crews from Stowmarket and Needham Market attended the fire after receiving a call just before 11pm. Extra crews from Elmswell, Ixworth and Bury St Edmunds were brought in when the scale of the blaze became clear.

Fire investigators and insurance assessors have visited the scene. The cause of the fire is unknown.

Mr Mullins' wife Barbara, who is company secretary, said: "Robert phoned me and said 'It's all gone' and I couldn't believe it.

"We lost all the company's equipment as well as our motor home, meaning we've had to cancel trips we had planned.

"We have borrowed some equipment and are now waiting for portable cabins to be delivered to set up a makeshift office by Monday."

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