FOLLOWING last week’s major fire in Bordon, neighbouring towns have stepped in to help.

Less than 48 hours after the fire damaged their shared premises at Highview Business Centre last Tuesday, two entrepreneurs were fully operational from Haslemere Business Centre.

With much of their activity based online and by phone, it was “relatively easy” for Bruce Wallace, of HaslenetIT, and Chris Goble, of Cycleworks, to relocate to available desks in the centre.

The fire gutted the roof and upper floors of units at Bordon’s Highview Business Centre. The ground floor, where Mr Wallace and Mr Goble had their office, was also badly damaged, mostly by smoke and water.

“We were able to salvage a few items, but it will be quite a while before the building can be re-occupied,” Mr Wallace said in the Haslemere and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce newsletter. “We will be able to work virtually as normal while we’re in the Business Centre, which has an excellent broadband connection.”

Chamber president David Goddin said: “I am glad we have been able to help Bruce and Chris at short notice - it is a fine example of the chamber providing a service in the community.”

Last week’s fire saw the centre of Bordon grind to a stop and the A325 closed. Around 50 firefighters were deployed to the incident, which gutted the roofs and upper floors of units. It is thought the fire started in the roof of one of the buildings, although this week Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said it still had not formally logged a cause.

Hampshire police said the blaze was not being treated as arson.