A MAJOR Worcestershire equestrian business is up and running again only six weeks after it was destroyed by fire.

For brothers John and David Doolittle, Wednesday, February 15, 2006 was a day they will want to forget.

It was the day the business they had worked hard for 30 years to build up - Equimix Saddlery in Stourport-on-Severn - went up in smoke.

"I got a call at about 7pm to say that there was a fire at the shop and that the Fire Brigade were on their way," said David Doolittle. "But by the time I got there, it was completely devastated.

"It was caused by an electrical fault, but the security grills in place to keep burglars out, did a great job at keeping the fire in, and by the time someone spotted it, it had taken such a hold, nothing could be saved.

"We had just started to take delivery of our new spring stock. It couldn't have happened at a worse time".

"We knew we had to get back up and running quickly. We didn't want to let our customers down and our suppliers didn't want to lose out at one of the most important times of the year in the equestrian calendar".

Luckily, the premises next door were vacant and with the help of the insurance company, people acted really quickly to get the business back up and running.

While shopfitters, electricians and other staff worked round the clock to fit out the new premises, Equimix's suppliers did everything they could to restock the shop. In the meantime the Equimix Saddlery has done everything it can to keep its customers happy via its website.

Today, six weeks to the day after the fire, the Equimix Saddlery opens for business as usual.

David Doolittle added: "We have worked really hard to get the business up and running quickly. Our customers have been so supportive during what has clearly been a difficult period."