THE future of around 70 workers at Wycombe Summit hangs in the balance a ski centre boss says.

Speaking for the first time about the fire which destroyed the centre's chalet, managing director Martin Smith said staff were being retained while they decided what to do next.

The fire, which happened last month, raged through the main chalet building in Abbey Barn Lane, High Wycombe, razing it to the ground.

The centre has remained shut since, but bosses are looking at short-term solutions to reopen, including the possibility of erecting portable buildings.

Mr Smith, managing director of SD Leisure Ltd, who own the centre, said staff could be needed shortly for a reopening.

He said: "We have not formally made anybody redundant at all.

"We are currently retaining our options in case we are able to trade on a temporary basis which will mean we need those staff. So we have retained everybody."

Staff at the centre range from bar and restaurant workers, to ski instructors. The restaurant and bar areas were consumed in the fire, including offices, but the basement, where ski equipment is kept, was saved.

Mr Smith added: "We have honoured their staff regular pay arrangements for the time being and are hoping to make the position clear in due course.

"I think Christmas and New Year will put it on hold in terms of supplying ski facilities."

Mr Smith said the company were awaiting progress on their "significant" insurance claim following the fire at the chalet, which has taken some time.

SD Leisure Ltd is part of Snowdome Holdings, which also operates the Snowdome centre in Tamworth, Staffordshire. This is one of few centres in the UK which uses real snow on their complex.

Mr Smith said the fire had caused major disruption with the festive season just around the corner.

He added: "It is an entirely unwelcome development which has come at the worst possible time of year because we have prepared for a busy winter.

"We were fully booked."

The fire was believed to have stemmed from a fat fryer gas leak in the restaurant kitchen, which then spread to the roof.