Bakery destroyed in gas explosion to reopen

A woman whose father's bakery was destroyed in a gas explosion has said she wants to "do her dad proud" as she plans to reopen the family business.

Griffiths Bakery was one of over 60 properties damaged by an explosion in New Ferry, Wirral, in March 2017.

Furniture shop owner Pascal Blasio had set off the blast in an attempt to claim insurance. Over 80 people were injured and he was jailed for 19 years.

Fiona Griffiths had been working to reopen the business with her father until his death earlier this year aged 82. She said she was determined to "carry on his legacy".

"He built up a very good reputation and I want to carry that on for him," she said.

"He just wanted to reopen and give the community what they want.

"It caused my dad a great deal of stress."

Fiona said people would travel from across Wirral to the bakery, known for its chicken and ham pies and Manchester tarts.

"There are lots of people from outside the community that used to travel into New Ferry for our pies," she said.

"It is quite emotional for me as me and my dad were going to do it again."

She said she had kept all her father's recipes safe and was "excited" to be bringing them back to the community along with her business partner, Ritchie Hyland

"I've always had [the recipes] locked away because I was the one that made the pies," she said.

"He built up a very good reputation and I want to carry that on for him."

Mr Hyland said it was "important to have the bakery back in the community".

"It was a famous bakery before the explosion," he said,

"People remember and love and Mr Griffiths and are excited to have it back."

The bakery, which will be located in a new premises close to its original location, is set to open in June.

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