BROTHERS feel “sickened” after their bakery was gutted in a fire – just one day before it was due to open.

Shari Roberto and Mehram Armando have spent the last year finalising plans to open Tavazo, in Ballards Lane, Finchley Central but say their hard work has gone to waste.

The blaze broke out just before 4am on Monday and while there were no injuries, police have labelled it “suspicious”.

Now the brothers, who also own a branch in Uxbridge Road, Ealing, are struggling to come to terms with the fact that £50,000 worth of food and equipment has been ruined.

Mr Roberto, who lives in Ealing, said: “I was shaking – I was in tears and angry at the same time. As I raced over there I was panicking and confused, wondering why this is happened.

“We are both upset and angry that someone could do this to us right before we were meant to open. It is sickening to think someone could have got hurt.

“It’s heart breaking. It didn’t seem real until we got there and smelled the smoke. It’s hard and odd at the same time.

“As a family we put so much into this but that’s now all gone. A million and one thoughts are going through my head. I can’t believe it.”

It could take another two months to repair the chaos caused by the fire and their insurers are currently assessing the cost of the damage.

Their father, Shahabi, has had two heart procedures in the last three weeks and they were worried the news would have a negative impact on his health.

They had hoped to open in time for the Persian New Year, which is this weekend, but instead are left picking up the charred remains of what is left.

But Mr Roberto, who has a three-year-old daughter, is determined not to be beaten and is now looking to the future.

He added: “This is not how we anticipated spending the Persian New Year – it’s such a shame. People have stopped by to ask us what’s happened, the community are amazing.

“It looked really cool – we spent a lot of money on building it up and it was a mix of modern and traditional. We had such a nice buzz but now nothing.

“We are going to open still – we are not going to crumple. We will get back to how it was three days ago and open as quickly as we can.”

No arrests have been made by anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting 2405953/16.