When the Subway sandwich store became one of the victims of the devastating blaze in Blackpool, franchisee Phil Hough feared the worse.

His Clifton Street business lay in ruins following the inferno and he feared he would lose everything.

Mr Hough was forced to make life-changing sacrifices in a bid to resurrect the business.

Insurance paid out £175,000 for the damage to the store, while he received a £17,000 grant from Blackpool Council.

The rest, around £250,000, Phil had to find himself by re-mortgaging his Blackpool home and borrowing cash from his family.

He also had to cancel a six-week trip to Thailand with his partner Kinga Lak.

Now, nine months later, he has opened a new fast-food outlet just yards from the blaze which destroyed an important part of the town's heritage.

After spending more than £450,000, Mr Hough has transformed a two-storey derelict store on Market Street and opened his second Subway franchise in the resort.

However, a week before the new store was due to open, vandals smashed the front window.

But that did not stop him.

Mr Hough, who also owns Subway on Whitegate Drive, said: "It's been the toughest nine months of my life. The banks wouldn't lend me money so I had to re-mortgage my home and borrow off my family. Without them, I could not have rebuilt the business.

"At the time I was devastated and wondered how I could rebuild the business. It's taken nine months of heartache and hard work but I have managed to do it.

"Fortunately I did not have to lay any staff off as I was able to use them in my Whitegate Drive store."

For the full story, see Friday's Gazette.