Two retail giants are scrambling to save jobs after a massive blaze at a Perth retail park.
The city’s B&M branch has been demolished following last month’s fire that left a 33-year-old man dead.
Now the company and neighbouring Pets At Home are considering their futures in the Fair City.
Staff at both shops have been temporarily transferred to other branches in Tayside.
Neither business has been able to say when their stores will re-open.
A source at discount chain B&M said the workforce of about 30 was given time off after the August 24 tragedy.
They have been told bosses are in talks with landlords about rebuilding the shop, while also considering other potential locations in the Perth area.
If the company is forced to quit Perth, staff would be offered a transfer to other stores – including two in Dundee – but it is not clear if there would be enough vacancies for all employees.
A B&M spokeswoman said: “Our colleagues are working at nearby stores. We hope to be back in Perth in the very near future.”
It is understood the Pets At Home building next door is still being assessed.
The shop has been boarded up, with a banner outside telling shoppers: “We’ll be closed for a while.”
The company’s spokeswoman said: “We are doing everything in our power to be in a position to continue serving our loyal customers in the Perth area but, due to the severe nature of the fire, this is likely to take a little longer than we had hoped.
“We will provide an update as soon as we have a clear picture of when we will be welcoming back owners and their pets.”
More than 50 firefighters tackled the early morning blaze and about 30 animals were rescued from Pets At Home.
At first it appeared that no one had been injured in the inferno, but investigators later viewed CCTV footage showing a man entering the building shortly before the fire broke out.
Days later, the body of a local man was recovered from within the ruins of the property.
The building has now been reduced to mounds of rubble by Coatbridge-based demolition firm Reigart.
The site, near Morrison’s supermarket, remains fenced off.
No one from site owners Moorgarth was available to say whether or not the shop would be rebuilt.
