A FAMILY are tasked with re-building their business after a pizza oven fire destroyed their restaurant.

Bella Sardo, in Bradshawgate in Leigh, had to be evacuated on January 22 after a fire broke out in its kitchen.

Customers, staff and residents from the flats above were all evacuated at around 9pm and three fire engines from Bolton Central, Atherton and Hindley attended the scene.

The restaurant, co-owned by Dino Carta and his daughter Natalia, had only been open for nine months following a £40,000 renovation.

Owner Dino said it is looking as though the restaurant will be closed for six months and he now has the worry of how to make a living.

Dino, 57, from Leigh said: “The damage is about as bad as it can get. The insurance companies are all busy with the flooding so can only get out to us next Monday to start the process.

“We were a new business and we had just finally started making a proper income and now it’s all gone.

“It started in the pizza oven after pizzas were left in too long and in five minutes the whole place was full of smoke. We were chock-a-block and I had to shout at everyone to get out.

“The restaurant looks like a ghost town, with half-eaten meals left on the tables and glasses of wine.”

GMFRS said that two people were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene but thankfully there were no serious injuries.

Co-owner Natalia Carta said: “It has been overwhelming with the response and support we have had from the people of Leigh and very heart-warming.

“It’s been a shock and devastating to all involved.

“We are lucky no-one was seriously injured.

“The fire was very serious and became uncontrollable within minutes and if owners and staff had not acted so fast and effectively as they did we could have been telling a very different tale today.”

The restaurant had just last week launched its take-out service on Just Eat, a service that Dino said had ‘doubled the restaurant’s income’.

He is now looking to find a venue with a kitchen to continue its takeaway trade.

Dino, a father-of-seven, added: “I was building the business for my children so they could one day take it over.

“We had just been saying how ‘this was it’ and it had finally all come together.

“When we reopen it will be like starting all over again, but we will be back.”