Cornish firm WC Rowe has officially reopened its Falmouth bakery – just 72 days after it was ravaged by fire.

The site re-opened on 3 November and local MP Sarah Newton was on hand to congratulate all who helped with the refurbishment project.

The fire at its Brickland site in July was caused by an electrical fault but the company, which has been running for 65 years, embarked on an impressive turnaround which saw production start after just six days.

At the reopening, chairman and owner Alan Pearce said: “I can truly say that 19th July 2014 was the blackest day in the history of W C Rowe. However, the amount of effort and understanding we received from so many people - our customers, suppliers, fellow pasty makers, our bank and of course our wonderful staff - was incredible.

“Everyone pulled together and, with tremendous vital support from our insurer, Travellers, our bakery was back up and running in record time and is once again producing the full range of pasties to the Rowe’s championship standard.”

Kerry Lynch, chief executive, added:  “We are extremely excited about the future, not least because we now have one of Europe’s most state-of-the-art production facilities. This will help us to accelerate the dynamic changes that were already under way prior to the fire. We are now picking up where we left off but this new production site means we can move forward even faster.” 

MP Sarah Newton said: “Few people will appreciate the stresses and strains that must have gone on behind the scenes to keep the show on the road at this family business.”