A NORTHWICH family have been left reeling after a fire gutted their roadside cafe.

The blaze swept through the Hartford Diner after the cafe closed for the evening on Friday and destroyed everything in sight.

Firefighters spent two and a half hours at the scene after being summoned by passers-by and say the cause of the fire is most probably an electrical fault.

Devastated owner Peter Jepson says he does not know when they will back in business on the site.

'The place is completely gutted and at the moment I have no idea when or if we will be able to open up there again.

'The fire has caused around £25,000 of damage and because it was a portable type building the insurance only stretches to so much.'

The 55ft-long wooden diner was run by his son Paul and is popular with local people and passing motorists, many of whom have become regulars over the years.

In addition to the full English breakfast the menu stretched to roast dinners, liver and onions, chillies and other popular dishes.

There was room inside for more than 30 diners and tables outside for another 20.

'We are hoping to be open another diner there soon but there is a lot to be sorted out,' added Mr Jepson, who also runs a catering unit on the car park at B&Q in Northwich.

The fire is believed to have been caused by defective wiring in a coffee machine.