Lancaster clothes shop reopens just two months after devastating fire

Anna Sullivan outside The Exchange designer dress shop

A clothes shop in Lancaster city centre has reopened just two months after a devastating fire.

The Exchange designer clothing agency on King Street reopened on Monday just two months after a blaze ripped through the shop.

The fire broke out on January 18 when a dehumidifier in the shop window exploded during the night.

A quick-thinking taxi driver alerted the fire service who raced to the scene to tackle the blaze.

Listen to Anna Sullivan from The Exchange talking about the fire which almost destroyed her business:

"On my phone it showed up that something wasn't right in my window, with one of my video cameras," said Anna.

"I sent my other half down, and we saw the fire engines were already here. Thank goodness that a taxi driver had phoned it through.

"It had only been burning for three or four minutes but the destruction was unbelievable, and everything was black. 

"It was a cold night and we'd put a dehumidifier in the window, and it had blown up.

"The whole place had to be gutted. A lot of the stock was destroyed, a lot of the faux fur and woolly fabrics. 

"The minute it happened, I had my clients ringing and texting me. My clients have supplied me with new stock and I'm very grateful to have had such a lot of support.

"I'm very organised and very stubborn and determined, and it wasn't going to finish me. It nearly did! But we're back and better than ever."

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