BUSINESSES based at a Newport landmark are still counting the cost of a fire which gutted three outdoor units in December.

The fire at a Grade II-listed outdoor block in the grounds of Tredegar House, which police have said is not suspicious, affected three companies and a catering unit run by the National Trust, who run the estate.

Tredegar House was unaffected and no-one was in the buildings at the time of the fire.

The incident happened the day after a visit from HRH the Prince of Wales.

Since the blaze, the Busy Bees patchwork and quilting shop has moved to Duffryn Community Centre, while the Celt Myth shop has not been able to operate since the fire.

Electricity to the Isca Wood Crafts shop round the corner was cut but they are still open and working there every day regardless, explained owner Paul Roberts.

“It’s the Dunkirk spirit,” said Mr Roberts, who along with wife Gail has been trading in the grounds of Tredegar House for six years.

“All we had was some smoke and water damage but we are continuing without electricity.

“A lot of our customers are still coming in. When you’re a small business in Wales word of mouth travels quickly, but we are still open.”

General manager at Tredegar House, Jo Cartwright said staff are waiting for a report into the cause of the fire from the fire service, which is estimated to take another week, and they can then calculate the cost of the damage done by the blaze.

With part of the roof completely missing, the damaged block has been boarded up to make it safe and fencing put around the outside.

Tredegar House and its grounds are currently closed to the public for the winter but will reopen on February 8.

The park remains open.