IT was a case of from ashes to ash for North Yorkshire Timber (NYT).

Staff from the Northallerton firm, whose depot in Springwell Lane, Northallerton, burned down two years ago, are celebrating the opening of a new purpose-built £1.5 million head office and sales centre at Northallerton Business Park.

Former opposition leader William Hague opened the new development by planting a native mountain ash tree on the site.

Mr Hague praised the timber supplier for its "dedication, determination and the will to win in business".

NYT, established in 1979, supplies a wide range of customers, including housebuilders, property developers, construction and joinery companies. It also supplies products direct to the public for self-build projects, including floors and doors. The company has grown steadily to an annual turnover of about £10.5 million.

The new development provides 5,000sq ft office accommodation, 5,000sq ft sales area and 12,000sq ft internal storage as well as 22,000sq ft of external storage and parking for 50 customer vehicles.

Peter Kershaw, NYT managing director, said: "The fire at Springwell Lane, less than two years ago, really could have been the end for the company. We had already formulated the plans we've carried out this year, but we had to totally rethink the routes we were going to take to achieve what we wanted. Thankfully, that's all behind us now and we're once again in a very strong position. "

Mr Hague said: "You are evidently doing very well as a business with, for the first time in April, more than £1 million in monthly sales."

NYT employs more than 100 people in total across the head office, five sales centres - at Northallerton, Ripon, Richmond, Middlesbrough and Sunderland (Joseph Thompson Timber) - and at its 120,000 sq ft storage, distribution and fabrication centre at Brompton-on-Swale.

Updated: 10:17 Wednesday, June 15, 2005