A large fire broke out at a builders merchants in Wolverhampton this morning.
The Carvers blaze was attended by 50 firefighters and is now under control. Although no one hurt, the building was destroyed.
Owner Henry Carver told the BBC: “It just happened so quickly. That’s 115 years of history destroyed.”
Workers wept as they watched the building and their parked cars go up in flames, the Express and Star reported.
Explosions were heard at 12.30pm and the roof collapsed as small gas cannisters began to explode.
Mr Carver added: “We can take a little bit of happiness in that no one has died."
Drivers have been urged to avoid the area and the blaze caused some Liverpool rail services to be diverted. Wolverhampton train station was also temporarily closed.
Nearby houses and student halls were evacuated as a precaution and a 200 metre exclusion zone was set up around the fire as crews brought it under control.
