MOHAMED al Fayed has visited the scene of his popular visitor centre in the Highlands, destroyed by fire last month.
Switzerland-based Mr Al Fayed was said to have been "devastated" by seeing the ruins of the Falls of Shin centre. But all 20 staff are being paid full salary while a decision is made about the future. The cost of the blaze is said to be in seven figures.
Mr Al Fayed sold London department store Harrods to the Qatari royal family's investment company in 2010, but retained the Falls of Shin centre near Lairg in Sutherland. Jonathan Henson, responsible for the overall management of Mr Al Fayed's Balnagown Estates, also revealed the preliminary cause of the fire was "an accidental electrical fault". The estate had been trying to find temporary premises in the area, but so far without success.
He said of Mr Al Fayed: "He is absolutely devastated and distraught. He had put a lot of time and emotion into making the centre happen.
"We are committed to the area and committed to creating sustainable employment. But we want to make sure what we do next is right."
Mr Henson said the estate could not at this stage make a definite commitment that the centre would be rebuilt
More than 30 firefighters battled in vain on May 20 to save the visitor centre, which consisted of a shop and restaurant housed in a wooden building.
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