PLANS to rebuild parts of Blochairn Fruit Market ravaged by fire have been welcomed.

The warehouse went up in flames last August when a fire broke out in one of the units leaving huge chunks of it destroyed.

Being Scotland’s busiest fruit market, it has continued to function despite substantial impairment.

The Camerons of Pittormie Fruit Farm in Darsie, Fife have been supplying to the market for more than 30 years.

Euan Cameron said: “I was quite shocked as to how much of the fruit market had gone after the fire.

“It’s one of the only proper wholesale markets that are left – Edinburgh and Dundee are gone – so it would be a shame if anything were to happen to it, if it were to disappear.”

The fire in the early hours of Thursday August 17 is thought to have been started by a fridge.

Around 12 fire engines, four aerial appliances and 70 firefighters tackled the blaze.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said it managed to save a “very good proportion” of the fruit market.

The building is owned by Glasgow City Council’s arm’s length company, City Property (LLP).

Near the M8, it is one of Scotland’s biggest food exchanges, having opened in 1969.

It operates 24 hours a day supplying fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and flowers.

It is frequented by restaurants, caterers, hotels and processors throughout Scotland and northern England.

More than 1,000 vehicles take goods in and out of the facility each day and it employs 400 full-time workers.

Despite the chaos of the fire, trading resumed the day after in the scorched site.

Mr Cameron, who visits the market to supply gooseberries seasonally, added: “It’s a famous fruit market, everyone knows it.

“It was amazing to see how much was taken by the fire, so it will be nice to see it all replaced.”

In May, it was revealed part of the rebuild could be turned into a recycling centre.

Planning officials will now consider the application.