Standard Laundry is reassessing how to continue in operation while new premises are found. The company employed 20 staff at the building in Donegall Avenue.

Managing director Patrick Bryson said the livelihoods of staff were now at risk. He added: “We are just trying to find a way forward and keep going at the moment.”

There were two separate fires at the laundry. The first blaze was extinguished at around 9.30pm on Monday 27 August but the fire and rescue service was called back shortly before 1.00am on Tuesday morning following reports that the laundry was on fire again.

A senior fire officer said: “The laundry is completely gutted. We are treating the fires as suspicious.”