BARBECUE equipment manufacturer Rectella International hopes to be back in full production within three weeks despite a massive fire at its Burnley factory.

More than 100 firefighters tackled the blaze in Bancroft Road on Monday afternoon.

The town was covered in thick, black, smelly smoke as the flames ripped through the storage and warehouse sections.

Fire crews surrounded the affected area, preventing the outbreak from spreading to the production unit.

The company is still counting the cost but said today it hopes to be back in production in two or three weeks in time for the summer season.

A company spokesman said today: "Only stocks in warehouse six have been lost.

"The production room where we manufacture all the Bar-be-Quick instant barbecues and instant lighting charcoal is completely intact and we hope to be back in full production in two weeks or so." The company has two other warehouses in Clitheroe which included some surplus production facilities.

"The key thing from out point of view," he added: "is that no one was injured and with the support of our team and no doubt plenty of overtime, continuity of supply will be maintained without any hiccups well before the summer arrives."

About ninety people work at the Burnley factory and all got out safely.

The company has a 160,000 square feet distribution centre, formerly the Compound Engineering unit.

Recently installed fire doors helped to prevent fire spreading into other parts of the premises.

Fire crews are still at the scene today and expect to be there all week.

A joint fire service and police investigation is under way but the incident is not thought to be suspicious.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.