A COLEFORD sawmill is planning expansion in the lucrative firewood market by buying a massive new £87,000 kiln made in the Czech Republic.

And it will be taking in upwards of 90 per cent of its timber from local sources in the Forest area.

Woodgate Sawmills, set up by Philip Humphries in 1950, is now run by his son Ken, and employs 19 people.

Principally a manufacturer of softwood fencing materials, Woodgate began to diversify into firewood in 2009 – and they say that their current projections predict a rise in fuel sales of up to 50 per cent over the coming year.

Kiln-dried firewood from the company is becoming increasingly popular with homeowners as the costs of other fuels – especially heating oil and gas – are reaching record levels. Owners of wood-burning stoves and multi-fuel cookers have been returning to wood as a cheaper and possibly more reliable source of their heating.

The purchase of the new kiln has been made possible with the help of Lloyds TSB and it is expected to provide a steady supply of force-dried wood.

The Mile End based sawmill is also hoping business will further expand when they open an online sales website later this year.