A fire has ripped through a family-run business's building.

Firefighters from four stations assembled to battle the huge blaze that started to spread at Robinson Car and Commercial in Silloth as crews were called just after 7pm on Thursday night.

Ricky Robinson, the director of the company, moved to praise the firefighters for their hard work and dedication to the job after an incident which he said "could have been a lot worse".

“As a business we’re okay," he said.

“It’s not until you see them [Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service] come round the corner when you need them that you realise how important they are.”

The fire was in a shed and it was mainly wood that was burning.

A shocking video had been shared on social media of the fire but Mr Robinson played down the seriousness thanks to the work of the crews.

He said: “It was just wood; I really can’t praise the firefighters enough, they were here really fast and they were all retained firefighters.

“We are normally the ones they call out if they have a break down so it was strange it being the other way round this time."

The crews – from Wigton, Aspatria, Silloth and Maryport – spent more than three hours fighting with the flames before they managed to get the fire under control.

Crews from other stations in the area were initially called to help but were stood down after crews managed to gain control and extinguish the fire.

A spokesman for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 7.04pm May 13 four fire engines from across Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, along with the joint incident command unit from Workington Fire Station, were called to reports of an incident on Silloth industrial estate.

“On arrival, fire crews discovered a fire involving a single-storey commercial building measuring approximately 20 by 50 metres, and are using two main jets and one hose reel.”

Robinson Car and Commercial is a family-run business and has been running as an independent garage since 2010.

The company currently has a contract with Cumbria County Council to take care of the vehicles the firefighters use.