United Kingdom - Hundreds of exotic animals were killed yesterday after a massive fire ripped through a specialist pet store. Firefighters are still investigating the blaze, which erupted at a Glasgow wholesale trader that supplies pet shops with tropical fish, lizards, snakes, insects, rabbits, mice, hamsters and birds.

The fire wrecked the single-storey building on an industrial estate in Kinning Park, Glasgow.

Husband and wife Alan and Dawn Murray, who ran the Murray Aqautics business, are devastated.

Dawn said: "My husband and I have been totally crushed by this.

Nightmare "The business has been running for more than 30 years. My husband is so upset all the animals died.

"He just wants to get in to the site to make sure none of the animals are still suffering.

"I doubt any would have survived but we can't get on to the site as firefighters found some asbestos.

"He had hundreds of different fish, spiders, snakes and lizards. It's just a nightmare."

Fifteen firefighters fought the huge flames.

Group Commander Allan Fairbairn, of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, said: "We are still investigating the cause of the incident."

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Written by Sunday Mail