People in a north-east port have rallied around scores of fish factory workers who watched their livelihoods go up in smoke at the weekend.
A blaze which engulfed the Northbay Pelagic plant in Peterhead has left a huge question mark hanging over the jobs of 120 full-time and 100 temporary staff.
But last night the local authority announced a multi-agency drive to provide support to all those affected by the disaster.
Meanwhile, a campaign to provide aid to the families of temporary workers faced with the prospect of having no job to go back to was gathering pace last night.
And it is understood that today several of the town’s churches will mobilise their congregations to help out.
Aberdeenshire Council’s head of economic development, Belinda Miller, said: “This has been a devastating fire that has destroyed the main processing building, which will have to be demolished and rebuilt.
“Northbay Pelagic is one of the biggest employers in the north-east and we have already offered our help and support to the company and those that work there.
“Over the coming days we will be working with them, the Scottish Government, other agencies and companies in the area to assist in any way we can.”
Council leader Jim Gifford, said: “The fishing industry is a major part of the economy in the north-east of Scotland and we will work with partners and agencies to help the company and its workers.
“I would also like to thank the Scottish Government for their quick offer of support, which is greatly appreciated.”
Advisers from Aberdeenshire Council will be joined by experts from Citizens Advice Bureau, Job Centre Plus and Volunteer Centre Aberdeenshire for a drop-in session on Thursday.
The meeting will be held at the Hot Spot community building , only yards from the site of Saturday’s catastrophic fire.
The cause of the blaze, which burned for more than 10 hours and was tackled by more than 100 firefighters, has not yet been established.
A police spokeswoman said: “A joint investigation is ongoing with Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
“So far there is nothing to indicate, at this very early stage, that the cause of the fire was suspicious.”
Northbay Pelagic director Chris Anderson issued a statement last night and confirmed the two main areas of the factory had been destroyed.
He added: “The main processing and packing lines have been lost and the company’s office and administration block has been destroyed.”
However, Mr Anderson added key areas of the site remained operational and that his firm was looking for “temporary accommodation” for the business”.
In the wake of the fire, hundreds of Peterhead residents took to social media to mourn the loss of one of the town’s biggest employers and offer support to those facing unemployment.
Various ideas quickly gained support, including establishing a charity fund to cover the loss of earnings or establishing a food bank specifically for Northbay Pelagic workers.
Community workers at the Hot Spot are understood to be considering how to implement the proposals.
Peterhead’s Apex Church is now preparing emergency food parcels, and has asked members of the congregation to help package donated goods.
Senior politicians and port authority officials will meet Northbay Pelagic directors this week to discuss how to ensure fish factory jobs are protected.