A FIRE caused damage estimated at £15,000 at a business in Royston on Monday. The blaze affected AJ Furniture, which is above A to Z Flooring and Carpets in Priory Lane. It broke out on the mezzanine floor and set alight to the roof at about 10.30am. Owne

A FIRE caused damage estimated at £15,000 at a business in Royston on Monday.

The blaze affected AJ Furniture, which is above A to Z Flooring and Carpets in Priory Lane.

It broke out on the mezzanine floor and set alight to the roof at about 10.30am.

Owner of AJ Furniture, Nigel Cracknell, believes the fire may have started because of a power surge.

"The fire got hold quickly," he said. "I had extra Christmas stock and half of it has been burned and the other half scolded."

The business has been shut temporarily.

Firefighters managed to stop the fire in about 40 minutes and prevented it from spreading to A-Z Flooring and Carpets below.

Allan Putz, owner of A to Z Flooring and Carpets, said: "We're in a mess because of all the water and dirt and because a bit of the ceiling has come down.

"But we are clearing it up and getting the showroom tidy so we can continue to trade."

Mr Putz has allocated some space in the showroom for Mr Cracknell so that he can maintain his business.

Mr Cracknell, however, has a second premises at The Wireless Station in Kneesworth.

He said: "We will have some continuity."

This is the second incident that has hit the premises in the past 12 months

Mr Cracknell said: "We were affected by floods at the beginning of the year and now we have a fire. But things can only get better. We are still open for trade."

Herts Fire and Rescue Service said: "An investigation is still being carried out, but the cause of the fire may have been a faulty light fitting."

Three pumps attended the scene.