Two firemen as they fight the blaze. A previously unpublished image.

In the aftermath of the £120,000 blaze at Heasandford Mill on Monday night, 11th January 1971, police inquiries into the cause of the fire are being continued and, "at this stage there is no suspicion of foul play," said a police spokesman yesterday. After searching the damaged area, senior fire officers have passed on information to the police.

Already six employees of Ingham and Lee Ltd, and John Barry Ltd, the two firms worst hit by the fire, have signed on at the Department of Employment and Productivity, and a spokesman at the department said there could be more signing on next week. He said "We haven't had many in from these firms but they employ quite a few women, and some of them may not be entitled to benefit or they may have found other jobs by now." Mr. Rennie Ingham, a director of Ingham and Lee, whose premises were severely damaged said: "There were eight employees working here and all of them will now have to find another job. The place is completely gutted."