Emergency food parcels and a pop-up post office has been arranged after a fire destroyed a Norfolk town’s only supermarket.

Budgens in Holt, which had been open for over 35 years and employed 82 people, was burnt down on the evening of Saturday, 21st June.

Norfolk Fire and Rescue firefighters from Aylsham, Cromer, Fakenham, Holt, Mundesely, Sheringham, Reepham and Wells attended the scene but were unable to save the family-run business.

Furniture store Bakers & Larners confirmed that they will be the temporary post office location within the community from Friday, 26th June.

Louise Cowell, communications manager for CT Baker Group, which will operate the service, said they had worked closely with colleagues from Post Office Ltd.

The service will be open from 9.30am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, and will include free parking, mail services, bill payments, withdrawals, deposits and travel insurance referrals.

The cause of the fire is still unknown, but it has since been confirmed no one was injured and the store empty when the fire started, with smoke being reported from ten miles away.

Sprinklers were also not installed in the building but was not required to under the regulations due to being a sales area of under 2,000 square metres.

C T Baker thanked emergency services for their efforts and said there were no reports of any injuries.

CT Baker said it was working with councils and the chamber of trade, known as Love Holt, to ensure vulnerable customers were supported.
North Norfolk District Council has since been delivering emergency goods within the community, including offering employment support and advise who have been affected by the blaze.

Following the incident, a Crowfunder page has been set up to help support staff, with over more than £5,700 raised.

The page reads: “The staff at both the shop and the Post Office have worked so hard to provide a lifeline to our town. They’ve kept shelves stocked, provided local deliveries to the elderly and most vulnerable, and worked around the clock to see this north Norfolk town through the good times and the bad.

“This is an opportunity for Holt to show its support and gratitude to all those who worked behind the scenes at the store. Whether you shop here or not, everyone knows someone locally who will be impacted.”
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