Fire caused by battery operated candle badly damages shop in New Street, Worcester

Mike Carroll, who owns Gallery Candles in New Street, Worcester, arrived at work on Tuesday, April 11 to find his shop and stock badly damaged by the blaze.

Firefighters from Worcester and Droitwich were called at 6.12am and put cordons up along New Street while they fought the flames and smoke.

Thankfully, residents of an upstairs flat were unhurt, and the two shops either side were not affected.

But Mr Carroll says most of his stock has been "ruined" by smoke damage.

"At the moment it hasn't quite sunk in yet," said the businessman, who opened the shop around three years ago.

"It is just horrible. Hopefully we will get it all sorted and get it up and running in the next couple of months. It is just one of those freak things.

"The fire officer said to me it was an electrical component failure."

The clean-up operation was underway at the shop today (Thursday), with businesses in the area offering their support.

Mr Carroll said: "The community support is tremendous. The local business community support is tear-jerkingly amazing. They have been really supportive."

Terry Goodwin-Jones, who owns The Kings Gallery next door, said: "I really feel sorry for him because we are quite a nice little community down here.

"It was a real shock when we came in on Tuesday morning. He had only just found out about it.

"Everybody will assume it is a candle left burning – and we have jokes about Mike starting the great fire of Worcester – but it was a battery.

"A lot of traders have been round to offer their help. I just hope he gets it sorted quickly and it can get reopened."

And Zarin Dodson, who owns Looking Sharp barbers, said: "I feel really sorry for him, he is a lovely man. He has always got a nice work to say to everyone."

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service sent three crews to the incident. It said an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.