'Arson attack has devastated businesses we've spent our lives at'

Seona Johnson (left) and Erika Wallace have run Dominoes Hair Designers since 1994

The sign above Kelly Hildreth's cafe in Huddersfield hangs by a thread, just about held in place by a loose nail preventing the crisp morning breeze from blowing it on top of the scrapheap of burned rubble outside her business.

You might say it is symbolic of Kelly's current predicament.

One week ago the business that has meant so much to her since her first shift aged 12 was thriving.

By the following morning, it was barely standing.

Fenced off to protect the public after a devastating fire tore through the building, it may have to be pulled down, leaving the future of Kelly's cafe and neighbouring businesses up in the air.

"I'm devastated," she admits.

"In the morning I've still been coming down as if I was coming into work.

"I haven't got nothing else apart from family, it's just this."

Kelly Hildreth's business was one of three badly damaged in a suspected arson

Now 51, Kelly has owned the business on St John's Road in Birkby for 13 years.

She first started working there when it was run by her mum's stepsister, and came and went under different owners around starting her own family, before returning 18 years ago.

"It's part of me," says Kelly, who grew up in nearby Dalton.

"It's the only thing I have ever done in life for myself and it was mine," adds the mother of three and grandmother to four.

The fire is being treated as arson by police, who confirmed a 30-year-old woman had been arrested as part of their investigation and released on bail.

It began in a florist occupying the middle unit in the cluster of three commercial units which are housed in the long-standing building.

While any possible motivations remain unclear, the consequences have been devastating.

"It doesn't seem real," says Kelly.

"I think that's why I probably keep coming down. I don't know what I'm going to achieve by coming down but it's just part me and it's something that's missing.

"It's just a waiting game. Hopefully we will be back."

The long-standing building may need to be demolished

Next door but one, long-time friends and business partners Seona Johnson and Erika Wallace have run Dominoes Hair Designers since 1994.

Having trained together just a few streets away 40 years ago, the pair have been inseparable ever since and Dominoes, by their own admission, was their "pride and joy".

"It was everything," says Seona, 56.

"It's my longest relationship."

Several times Seona stops talking to wipe away tears. After handing a tissue to her friend from the age of 16, Erika takes one for her own tears.

"It's all we have ever done," says Erika, 57.

"It's just come to a standstill and it's completely out of our control.

"All them years of working and practically living in there [...] all these customers gained and just full stop.

"That's what I'm struggling to come to terms with."

Seona says Dominoes and its customers are "like one big family".

"It's our livelihood, it's our baby," she adds.

"I love hairdressing, it's something I want to continue with. I'm determined for it not to be the end."

Fundraising pages have been set up to help both businesses, with Kelly admitting it is a "waiting game" to discover if the building will be demolished and rebuilt.

"I think it's going to be a long process," says Seona, who has been forced to cancel all of their upcoming appointments.

"It's the worst time of the year for this to happen."

Graham Turner, Kirklees Council cabinet member for finance and regeneration, said: ''Our team has been working with West Yorkshire Police and the fire service to identify the cause of the fire, and we will continue to support them in their investigations.

"We have provided support to the businesses and if needed we will try to help them find alternative premises.

"We have secured the site for now to make sure people can't access an unsafe area whilst we consider our next steps.''

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