AN ICE CREAM business devastated by fire has announced it is set to reopen soon, after a lengthy repairs programme costing hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Bosses at Icestone Gelato expect to get business back to usual at their Springmill Street factory and Bradford shop in Great Horton Road in the next three to four weeks.

Two men arrested in connection with the Christmas Eve arson attacks on the two premises have been released without charge and detectives are continuing their investigations.

Icestone Gelato’s operations director Paul Morris said the lack of arrests leading to charges was frustrating, especially as the business had put up a £50,000 reward for any information that would lead to a conviction.

A police spokesman said: “Two men aged 20 and 28 were arrested in connection with this investigation, but were later released without charge.

“We still believe these incidents are linked and would ask anyone who saw suspicious activity around the premises in Springmill Street or Great Horton Road in the early hours of 24 December to contact Bradford District CID on 101, quoting log number 286 of December 24, or to call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Mr Morris said he believed Icestone Gelato was now “over the worst” and was pushing forward.

Some of the equipment in the factory was saved but some needed replacing and a new roof was going on this week.

Mr Morris also said the Great Horton Shop, which was its very first, had undergone a £200,000 refurbishment, bringing it in line with its newer shops in Huddersfield and Wolverhampton while “quite a few hundred thousands of pounds” had been spent restoring and re-equipping the factory.

“We have all been working frantically to get the Bradford operation up and running again.

“We were helped by generous smaller production businesses who allowed us to use their facilities because the Springmill site was our main distribution unit but logistically it’s been quite difficult.

“However, we are moving on now. Our founder and CEO has also been to Italy looking at new technologies to introduce.

“We are optimistic and are investing more,” he said.

“It’s frustrating that we’ve heard nothing at all from the police because we really thought the reward would have got people talking but it seems not.

“However, we have been through the worst of it and now we are pushing well ahead.

“We should be ready to open in three to four weeks' time.”