A DEVASTATED business owner has revealed he has “lost everything” after a massive inferno engulfed his building and destroyed his stock, eight lorries as well as his forklifts. 

Flames filled Essex Packing Supplies, on the Burnt Mills Industrial Estate, Pitsea, on Saturday morning after the huge blaze broke out at the neighbouring TLM Environmental recycling centre. 

Firefighters remained on the scene throughout yesterday and have warned residents they will remain on the scene for at least four more days as they break up and extinguish piles of recycling. 

Scott Wright, director at Essex Packaging Supplies, admitted the future of his firm –nwhich sells everything from PPE and clothing to hygiene products and bubble wrap – has been thrown into doubt. 

Flames - Essex Packaging Supplies on fire Flames - Essex Packaging Supplies on fire (Image: Essex Fire)

At the height of the fire, dozens of firefighters battled a huge wall of flames and  searing heat as they attempted to bring the situation under control.

Mr Wright, 46, said: “Everything is gone, it has been burnt to the ground.

“Lorries, forklifts and all of the stock – the fire started in the TLM building next door, we believe, and it has spread to us.

Aftermath - Fire crews attempt to clear the devastation Aftermath - Fire crews attempt to clear the devastation (Image: Essex Fire)

“We are absolutely devastated, we had eight lorries, it is such a nightmare, and it is still burning now.”

Mr Wright added that the companies’ alarms went off at around 2am on the Saturday and he arrived at the scene to find the whole building alight.

Inferno - Firefighters battle the fire at the recycling centre Inferno - Firefighters battle the fire at the recycling centre (Image: Essex Fire)He said: “We can’t do anything. There is nothing we can do, it is a nightmare.

“All my friends have been supporting us and we are trying to get a meeting with other warehouses to look to move into somewhere else temporarily.

“I want to move past this, this is what we pay our insurance for and we have had customers and people supporting us.

“We have been in business for 46 years and we are established, we just aren’t established at the moment.

“This will change in a few weeks, we will get back our lorries, forklifts our stock and pick ourselves back up, our customers have stuck with us and they will continue to, it is all a bit raw at the moment.”

TLM Environmental have been approached for comment.