NINE months ago Raoul Perfitt stared at the ruins of his fire-ravaged factory and said: "I feel like my heart has been ripped out."

The 40-year-old businessman was left devastated after a fire tore through the £1 million headquarters of Herb UK, which makes organic hair care products.

Scores of firefighters tackled the blaze opposite a petrol filling station in Wellworthy Road, Lymington.

Now Mr Perfitt is all smiles after watching the official opening of his new premises, which are just around the corner in Ampress Lane.

He and fellow managers Rick Farrant and Steve Landreth have acquired the controlling interest in Herb UK in a £425,000 deal.

They were advised by the company commercial arm of Dorset law firm Ellis Jones, headed by partner Grant Esterhuizen.

DMH Stallard acted on behalf of the South East Growth Fund, a venture capital fund, which previously held the controlling interest.

Herb UK, which supplies 3,000 salons around the world, has effectively risen from the ashes.

The future of the business looked bleak after fire broke out on May 24 last year, destroying about 90 per cent of the factory.

However, the company kept trading with the help of firms such as Hampshire Cosmetics and a production unit in Istanbul, Turkey.

Employees worked in portable buildings in a car park while Herb UK battled back from the brink of disaster.

Asked if it had ever been in danger of folding, Mr Perfitt said: "There was one 24-hour period following the fire in which we considered all the options.

"We could either walk away from the business or build again - and at the end of the day it was a very quick decision."

Herb UK now employs 23 staff with an annual turnover of £2.9 million.

Its products are marketed under the brand names Organic Colour Systems and Tints of Nature, with the company represented in more than 30 countries worldwide.

The 17-year-old company's new home was officially opened by Lymington Mayor Pauline Elsworth.