Bosses of a Bradford supermarket last night vowed to re-open after a devastating fire that could cost the firm more than £5million.

The Pakeezah store in Ingleby Road was destroyed by a blaze yesterday afternoon that needed about 70 firefighters and 11 fire engines to bring under control.

At one stage flames could be seen billowing from the supermarket’s roof and thick smoke could be seen across Bradford.

Nasar Yaqub, financial controller at Pakeezah, said: “This could cost us between £5m and £5.5m to get this Pakeezah store up-and-running again.

“It will be £2.5m for the fixtures and fittings alone. Then it depends how long the process takes with the insurance company – we are covered on every aspect.

“We had a new cash tills system in there, and we owe about £700,000 to creditors. There was also about £400,000 of stock in there.”

Mr Yaqub added that the aim was to keep the business in the same premises and secure the jobs of the 40 people employed there.

“We want to re-open there as soon as possible,” said Mr Yaqub, who added that all staff and customers were safely evacuated.

“We are not going to let go of the business – we have got a good name in Bradford.”

Mr Yaqub said the fire could not have come at a worse time because of Ramadan.

“Our sales increase by about 60 or 70 per cent during Ramadan,” he said.

Firefighters from stations including Bradford, Odsal, Idle and Fairweather Green, were called at about 1.30pm.

Odsal watch commander Andy Mason said crews were confronted by a “fierce” fire. An aerial ladder platform was used to tackle the fire from above.

Firefighters could be seen pausing to drink water as the battle to control the fire raged. Mr Mason said: “The store is extensively damaged inside. Crews worked very well in difficult conditions.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but staff and customers said they heard a buzzing sound and a bang moments before the blaze started.

Zaheer Babar, who works in the kitchen at the supermarket’s cafe, said: “We smelled the smoke then saw the smoke. There was a horrible buzzing noise, and I thought it was electrical wires touching each other.

“We told customers to leave the building and then ten minutes later it was a massive fire.”

There were about 40 customers in the supermarket when the fire started.

Customer Khal Khan was in the store to buy samosas. He said: “I heard a bang and then a buzzing sound. I didn’t expect it to be a fire, I expected someone to have dropped or broken something.

“It was quiet for a bit, then all hell broke loose, with people shouting we have to get out. It was frightening.”

Police sealed off Ingleby Road between Thornton Road and Duncombe Street, which forced other businesses to close.

Morrisons closed its petrol station across the road as a safety precaution, while Domino’s, Subway, McDonald’s, KFC, Mother Hubbard’s fish and chip shop, Chillis Grill, Cakes and Shakes and Rajas fast food shop were all forced to close. Lidl remained open.

Plumpton Street, Bingley Street and Ingleby Street around the back of the supermarket were also shut by police.

Harry Buttar, 50, was in the supermarket when the fire started. He said he could smell burning plastic moments before the store was evacuated.

He said: “I went in at lunchtime to get a drink and there was a few women in there doing their shopping. I could smell plastic burning. They evacuated everyone pretty quickly. I saw flames coming out of the roof.”

Mr Buttar was at the back of the supermarket watching the firefighters tackle the blaze with workmates Samir Butt and Imran Bhatti.

The trio had to leave their place of work, printing firm Platinum Labels, because smoke had filled their building on Duncombe Street.

Mr Butt, 24, said: “There were flames coming through the roof and smoke filling the area.”

Mr Bhatti, 36, added: “We had to stop working because it was too hot and there was too much smoke inside.”

Intazair Hussain, of Duncombe Autos in Duncombe Street, had also stopped working because smoke was filling his garage.

“It is very smoky – I cannot do anything in there,” he said. “It gets okay for five minutes, then it goes bad again.”