Bosses of a south Wales furniture factory gutted by fire have offered to help nine brides-to-be after disrupting their weddings.

Universal Furniture has been using the Galtee Hotel at Hirwaun as a temporary headquarters following the blaze at their premises in Aberdare in December.

We are just trying to be helpful to those people who had booked and paid their deposits to use the hotel for their wedding Mark Symes, Universal

The company has now bought the hotel as its new headquarters, forcing the brides to find different venues for their weddings.

The firm, which employs about 100 people, has bought a new site for production near the old factory, but no administration offices were available.

Instead, it made an offer to buy the hotel.

But nine wedding parties had already paid a deposit to use the venue.

As a gesture of goodwill, the company offered to find alternative premises for the couples.

"We have already helped eight of the couples and hope to help the last couple," said managing director Mark Symes.

"We have called local hotels who are the same standard as the Galtee and offered the alternatives to the couples," he added.

Universal Furniture also made up the shortfall after one couple found a venue which cost �800 more than the Galtee.

Universal's managing director Mark Symes

"We are just trying to be helpful to those people who had booked and paid their deposits to use the hotel for their wedding," added Mr Symes.

The firm hope that the deal will be closed by 1 March.

"We approached the hotel owners because the facilities here are very good," said Mr Symes.

"We have bought the production site, but there weren't any offices there, and it was going to cost a lot of money and take a lot of time to build offices there.

"One night I was having a drink in the hotel bar, and thought how good it would be if we could stay here.

"So I spoke to the owner and they agreed to sell.

It is such a good opportunity for us Mark Symes, Universal

"We are going to keep all the hotel staff on including the chef.

"It is such a good opportunity for us," he added.

The firm, which has begun production on a limited scale, lost all of its stock - worth �2.5m - in the blaze.

Their new factory inn Unit 2 of Robertstown Industrial Estate is being made ready for full production.

Universal Furniture has been a major employer in Aberdare for more than 20 years, and makes furniture for major retailers including Allders and Harveys.