AN office supplies and stationery firm is considering relocating elsewhere in Rossendale after a flood caused thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Brothers Pete and Steve Shepherd only opened their business Rossendale Office and Stationery Supplies in Yorkshire Street, Bacup, at the end of April.

When Pete arrived at work at 7.45am yesterday he said he found water pouring from the front door, the windows steamed up and when he opened up he found a computer monitor steaming with hot water and the ceiling had come in from the flat above.

Thirty processed customers' films were wrecked, but hopefully the negatives have been salvaged, the electronic till was waterlogged as was a £500 colour photocopier, carpets were soaked and goods in the shop ruined.

Pete said: "Although the flood was an accident because a pipe burst at the flat above the shop we are now considering our future in Bacup. If we relocate we will be looking to do so in another Rossendale town."

When they opened the business they had one shop, but soon expanded next door and Pete said they had built up a good and loyal customer base.

He said: "A customer of ours said she saw some children aged about ten on the roof of the property throwing slates at 8pm. She called the police but said no-one had been after 45 minutes. We are very concerned that the police were called to the premises but no-one appears to have attended to see what was going on."

Pete called the police and fire brigade who checked out the flat and turned off the water.

The stock room and contents have survived the flood but the brothers are waiting for loss adjusters to calculate the cost of the damage.

Pete said: "Bacup needs a shop like this and with the money coming into the town we thought it would be a good idea to set up here. We are insured but it is the time you lose that we can't replace and we had to close yesterday so we lost trade."