The West Drayton garden centre gutted by fire could rise like a phoenix from the flames, its owners have hinted.

Ansell Garden Centre was destroyed in a massive blaze which swept through it on Sunday (November 20).

In a series of tweets in the immediate aftermath of the fire, the owners spoke of their "despair and heartache".

But in later tweet it suggested that planning could already be under way to rebuild a “better” garden centre.

The tweet was sent by Ansell in reply to one of the many messages of good wishes it has been inundated with since Sunday.

Fire rips through Ansell Garden Centre in Holloway Lane

After a well-wisher expressed her sympathy and offered to help in a with a rebuild, Ansell replied: “Thanks you! Just sat at the dinner table with the family deciding how we can make it even better.” A seedling emoji is added to the end.

In a separate tweet, Ansell said the kind words of well-wishers was helping.

It read: “The messages from the whole community have been a comfort.”

Ansell's message on its Facebook page

And writing on its Facebook page, the garden centre, based in Holloway Lane in Harmondsworth, paid tribute to all those who had helped over a tumultuous few days.

It read: “We have been touched by all the kind words and support that you all have offered, from our family, friends, customers, suppliers, residents and our staff both new and old who have become part of our family. Thank you.

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“Thank you to the firefighters and the police continue to provide all their support and monitor the garden centre (or what’s left of it) to ensure the safety of the local residents.

“You all have given us the courage to move forward.

"We will hopefully see your smiles in the very near future and will keep you updated as much as we can so please keep in tune with our Facebook page.

“With some hope, we stay strong, we fight, we move forward,”

It is signed by: “Ansell Garden Centre & the family”

Dramatic photos of the fire captured by Pawfect Style Dog Grooming owner Ruth Revillas

Around 100 firefighters were needed to bring the fire under control.

They were called shortly after 4.30pm, as the business closed for the day, and spent five hours battling the flames.

Their task was made harder because of cylinders and fireworks stored at Ansell were at risk of exploding, prompting fire crews to impose a 300 metre cordon.

The following day (November 21) Ruth Revillas, who owns a dog grooming site on the garden centre land, described the inferno to getwestlondon .

Pawfect Style Dog Grooming escaped the blaze, but Ms Revillas said its heat as “ridiculous” and went on to say: “The flames were really bad. It was really scary. It felt like we were in the middle of a war.”

London Fire Brigade say the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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