FLAMES left a wake of destruction estimated at many thousands of pounds, after ripping through a large section of a Wooburn factory.

The blaze, which firefighters believe started in a ground floor extraction unit, devastated a tool making department at Ballform, on the Soho Mills Industrial Estate, Thomas Road.

Staff from buildings were evacuated away from the site, after reports of damaged asbestos and fears the flames could spread to adjacent buildings on the site.

Fire crews from Beaconsfield, High Wycombe and Cookham battled the fire for nearly two hours, following the call at 1.35pm on Friday.

Jackie Manners, head press officer for Buckinghamshire Fire Service, told Midweek, firefighters had been called to a substantial fire but reports of asbestos were inaccurate.

She said: "There was an abundance of special cement asbestos in the factory roof. When this started to burn it fell back into the fire and was completely destroyed.

"It did not float off into the air causing us to evacuate a 300-mile radius."

Although a two-storey area approximately 40m by 20m was destroyed by flames, the fire service managed to save most of the factory despite a considerable amount of smoke damage.

A spokesman for Beaconsfield fire station told Midweek: "We were first to the fire and on arrival there was lots of smoke coming out of the factory roof. Eight sets of breathing apparatus were needed and three hose jets.

"It was a substantial fire and we had to call in the aerial appliance from Wycombe. This is set on a turntable ladder and enables us to get above the fire and hit it with water from above."

Officers do not suspect the fire was started on purpose, and there were no casualties.

The last fire engine returned to base shortly after 2.45pm.

January 21, 2003 11:30