Business owners watched on in despair yesterday as their livelihoods went up in flames.

More than 50 firefighters tackled the blaze as it tore through a historic mill about a mile north of Inverurie.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of classic vehicles, rally cars, antique furniture and filming equipment were among the charred ruins at Lethenty Mill.

Six businesses were destroyed in the fire, which broke out at about 4.20am, with their roofs collapsing. Plumes of thick smoke could be seen for miles.

Firefighters brought the fire under control by 9am, but crews remained on the scene well into the evening to dampen down pockets of heat.

Among the businesses damaged were Lethenty Cabinetmakers, Cinecosse, Nina’s Apartment, Lethenty Mill Furniture, Joss Engineering and Jim King Autotune.

The mill was described as a “community of craftsmen” by those working at it.

Site owner Allan Fyfe – who lives at the site with his son, Matthew – was woken up to the flames attacking the walls of their home.

The 67-year-old said: “It was a terrible fire. It is a Titanic disaster. I woke and there was a strange smell and there were crackling and clicking noises.

“I opened the door and thought ‘no, there is something wrong here’ and then I realised the place was not just smouldering, it was on fire and I had to get out.

“This was my grand design. We know roughly the area where it started but don’t know what started it because it was right in the heart of the building.”

His son, Matthew, 29, said the pair had spent the morning “watching it disappear”.

He added: “It is hard to find the words, I have lived here since I was four or five years old.”

But the business owners have vowed to continue on with their work as best they can in the coming weeks and months.

Jim King, of Jim King Autotune, said four customer cars and three of his own, including his son’s Peugeot 106 rally car – were gone.

The 58-year-old was let in to survey the damage by firefighters yesterday afternoon and said it was “worse” than he initially thought.

Though his upper workshop survived, the lower one was completely ruined, but the damage to his office – where the roof collapsed – remains to be seen.

Graeme Winram, 49, owner of Lethenty Cabinet Makers – which crafts bespoke furniture and kitchens – said: “It is unlikely we’ll be able to continue trading in that building, but we are very likely to continue. We won’t let this stop us.

“We had a dozen woodworking machines and a number of lovely quality hardwood which will be destroyed.”

Director of video production company, Cinecosse, Graeme Mowat, lost all his camera and editing equipment – including drones.

“We have been going since the 1970s and will still be going after this”, he said: “It is a total loss. Our works in progress have been destroyed. We had cameras and a couple of drones in there.”

Mother-of-two, Nina Eggans owns Nina’s Apartment, where she bought and sold on “irreplaceable” antique furniture.

The 37-year-old estimated more than £10,000 worth of stock had been lost along with the premises.

She added: “I saw the smoke from a distance, so it was pretty dramatic. I came here and it was still going. From what I have seen there is little left so I am dreading seeing what is inside.

“I had some beautiful Scandinavian furniture from the 1960s.

“I am waiting to find out what the damage is but it looks pretty bad. I am optimistic though, from the ashes rises the phoenix.”

It is understood police raised the alarm after spotting the fire while passing by.

Fire and rescue group manager for Aberdeenshire, John Morgan, said the cause of the fire is now being investigated.

He added it was “well developed” on arrival, at a “complex property”.

“The fire spread rapidly through roof voids and the crews worked hard to control and limit the fire spread,” he said.

“We have had some structural collapse of some parts of the building, there is a significant risk of further collapse.

“There was numerous hazards associated with the building including tyres, car vehicles, photographic equipment and materials which will present hazards to firefighters in this situation.”

“It was just the perfect combination of businesses”

Business owners yesterday said they were determined to “find a way forward” despite the devastating fire at Lethenty Mill.

However some feared they may never recreate the “lovely” community which they had at the Garioch mill.

Nina Eggans, of Nina’s Apartment, said: “I’ll have to look for a new premises, which is really hard because it was such a great place, it was such a lovely community of craftsmen.

“It is going to be hard to find something like that again. The cabinetmakers, they knew so much about wood, every time I had something to repair and needed advice I just nipped across.

“It was just the perfect combination of businesses really. I don’t know what I am going to do. I have got an online shop. I’ll probably have to trade from home.”

Trevor Joss, of Joss Engineering – a welding and fabrication company -said other companies had already offered their support.

The 41-year-old added: “I managed to open my small roll door and got the fork lift out and basically stood back and watched the fire engulf the place. I was surprised how quickly it spread. There was thousands of pounds worth of stuff. But we are all still here.”

Graeme Winram, of Lethanty Mill Furniture, added: “Change is often upsetting but it can led to something better, I feel optimistic, it is an opportunity. I don’t feel desolate or really all that upset.

“We just have to roll up our sleeves and get on with what we can.”

Jim King added: “We’ll continue in business. We have to find a way to go forward, I have got six guys employed and two office staff.”