A FAMILY-owned New Forest sawmill has risen from the ashes of a devastating fire to become a cutting edge operation ranked in the top ten in the country.

The fire which engulfed R F Giddings sawmill in Bartley ripped through its main production line and mill building and destroyed thousands of pounds worth of machinery.

More than 80 firefighters from across the county tackled the blaze in February 2005.

Now the rebuilt sawmill has been kitted out with state-of-the art computer-controlled cutting equipment to more efficiently process 90,000 tonnes of timber a year.

The mill is run by the fifth generation of the Giddings family, who were also caught up in a terror bomb blast in South Africa six years ago.

Financial director Tony Giddings said the production line had been back running for about a month.

"It was a very challenging period for us, but we always intended to rebuild.

"The mill is an integral part of the New Forest."

While mill bosses started the gradual rebuilding, part-processed material was brought in to keep 45 employees in jobs.

Mr Giddings said the mill could now look forward to long-term continuity for the next 20 years, in a partnership with the Forestry Commission which has been crucial to its conservation programmes.

"Many of the people who work in our local industry are New Forest Commoners, my father included, dedicated to maintaining the area's traditional way of life," he said.

Forestry Commission director Paul Hill-Tout, who paid a visit to the mill, said it had been vital to the rural economy since it was established in 1890.

"Our timber producing partnership helps support the livelihoods of 300 people.

"Now the rebuild is nearing completion the commission is looking forward to a long and productive relationship to the benefit of woodland and local jobs."

Mr Giddings said the fire on February 25 last year destroyed 65 per cent of the mill buildings and 85 per cent of machinery, worth millions.

The mill quickly reopened for business as some production buildings had been unaffected, but the loss of the main cutting shed sparked a major rebuilding project.

To protect the local timber industry and keep contractors in work the Forestry Commission began supplying mills further afield and employing crews on conservation schemes.

Although the cause of the fire is unknown fire investigation chiefs said it probably started after sparks from welding equipment or power saws ignited sawdust.

Tony Giddings was holidaying in Cape Town with his family in August 1998 when a bomb ripped through the Planet Hollywood restaurant where they were eating.

More than 20 people were injured including Mr Gidding's son Jacob and daughter Laura, then eight, who had to have a foot amputated.

Since the bombing the family, backed by the Daily Echo, has been campaigning for a better standard of prosthetic limb given to amputees through the National Health Service.