A RARE book store which was nearly destroyed in an arson attack has turned a new page in its history.

Thousands of books went up in smoke when young thugs torched Sharston Books, in Harling Road, Wythenshawe, in March, and the six-year-old business nearly went bust.

Among the rare editions destroyed was a copy of the American Declaration of Independence and a set of medieval histories dating back to the 1700s worth hundreds of pounds.

But the team of six staff helped restore some of the store's 100,000 books which were not completely destroyed and repaired the fire-damaged two-storey building. About 650,000 books in adjacent units were undamaged.

The store's rise from the ashes was completed four weeks ago when the business once again opened its doors to customers, largely students, collectors and traders.

"We are glad we are still in a job. It's a great place to work," said co-ordinator Jamie Graham, 36.

Terrible blow

He added: "The arson attack was a terrible blow to us all but all the original staff have stuck together and our resolve to rebuild and restock was never in doubt. It's been a long and painful process but we've managed to reopen and customers have responded magnificently."

Before the fire, enthusiasts acknowledged Sharston Books as the north west's top venue for rare, specialist, collectable and out-of-print books.

A spokesman for the store added: "The needless act of vandalism totally destroyed the front of the warehouse and almost dealt a fatal body blow to the store.

"Like a phoenix from the ashes, it has returned. Staff have rallied together, painstakingly putting in many hours of effort to replace those books which were lost and helping to replenish the stock to something near the numbers before the fire."

Sharston Books also has a website at www.sharstonbooks.com.

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