WILLIAMS’ bakery on Plassey Street and the Cornerswell Road shop, which closed suddenly in August, have reopened under the new name of The Penarth Bakery.

Penarth residents and those working at the shops were disappointed when owner Gareth Spray announced the closure with just a few days notice.

And despite offers from customers to buy a year’s worth of bread up-front, and the fact that some of the staff had been working at the shop for nearly 20 years, the shop was closed down.

Mr Spray explained: "We had to close in August – there was a dispute with the gas company and there wasn’t the money to keep it going.

"It was hard to see the staff go, but like them I was left without a job.

"The problem for me was that the bakery and the Cornerswell Road shop are in my name and the lease runs until 2016. It was costing me money empty.

"It has taken some time to set up again with a new name, but I have the van, some help, and I have employed two more staff.

"I am hoping it will go well. I offered some of the previous staff jobs but they were happy where they were."

But some former staff members, who say they are still owed money, are angry that Mr Spray has been able to set up a new business so soon.

Lesley Griffee, who worked in the bakery, said: "He had enough money to reopen and he hasn't offered all of us employment. I thought spiralling costs put him out of business."

Nicola Philp, who is now employed by Bruton's Bakery which leased Williams' Glebe Street shop following the closure, said: "I would have liked to have had the money I was owed, the redundancy, holiday and notice pay, before Mr Spray found the money to reopen."

But Mr Spray said that the old company has been dissolved and there is no money.

"I was in the same position as them," he said.

"The money wasn't there and it costs a lot less to set up a new business and register that, than to try to revive an old business."

An employment tribunal is due to take place later this month.

But those who were shopping at the new bakery on Monday morning were delighted at the shop’s opening.

Mr Dearing of Redlands road said: "It is good to have a bakery near by – I have grown to like this bread, and I am very pleased to have it back."

Christine Davies, a dinner lady at Victoria School, added: "The dinner ladies didn’t know what to do without it here – we were looking about for somewhere near to get bread, and this is right next to the school. We are very pleased."

Penarth coucillor, Mark Wilson added: "I am of course pleased that the bakery in Penarth has opened.

"Nevertheless I am concerned about the staff who left their employment when it was called Williams Bakery Ltd. I hope that they can reach a settlement with their ex-employer."