DOZENS of workers fled for their lives from a burning warehouse as flames threatened to engulf them and their businesses.

Employees from four firms at Highfield Business Park in Deerhurst were forced to evacuate as the blaze took hold yesterday.

They admitted it was terrifying to see the situation change so quickly, from a fire they felt able to handle to one which was completely out of control.

Paramedics were at the scene off the A38 as a precaution but nobody was injured in the blaze.

Firefighters arrived just after 10am to find the single-story building alight. Flames were leaping through the roof and black smoke billowed into the sky.

It took 20 firefighters an hour to get the fire completely under control.

Some of the workers from the four businesses tried to contain the blaze with fire extinguishers before making a speedy retreat.

Firefighters said the fire started at the northern end of the warehouse in kitchen suppliers' firm Sollars Kitchens.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service's group commander, Clive Webber, said: "The fire began in a spray booth in one of a row of four units but then went through the complete roof space."

He added that the incident was not being treated as suspicious and appeared to have been caused by a spark setting fire to combustible materials.

Shock

Derek Sollars, who runs the business with his son and another worker, said: "We did our best to deal with it. We're all in a state of shock."

He added that he was waiting to be allowed to go back into the unit, which he rents, to see what he could salvage.

Kevin Ede was working in the unit next to Sollars Kitchens, at door and window repair firm Fenster Commercial Ltd, when the drama began. Mr Ede said: "He was shouting for help next door. We ran round with our fire extinguisher and a hose pipe but there wasn't a great deal we could do. It just took hold and we needed to get away."

Fenster has recently installed new tools and computers at its site and Mr Ede said staff grabbed some equipment before leaving as quickly as they could.

He added: "We had to evacuate pretty quickly. It's a shock when something like that happens."

He and his colleagues praised the fire service for attending the scene so quickly and preventing the warehouse from suffering even greater damage.

Mr Ede said: "It could have been a lot worse without them."

Firefighters remained at the site all morning, making sure the fire was fully out.

Once the flames had been doused and the smoke was contained, a large gaping hole could be seen in the roof above Sollars Kitchens.

It is not know how much the damage will cost to repair or how long before the businesses can return.