AN antiques centre in Chipping Norton has risen from the ashes and is set to reopen after a devastating fire.

Station Mill Antiques Centre, Station Road, was gutted after an electrical fault in September last year.

But, after a refit costing in excess of £300,000, the new-look centre will reopen on May 28.

Owner Lesley Langer said: “It has been hard work, but the centre is completely transformed.

“The building is completely different now. The whole thing is new basically, the only remaining thing is the structure.

She added: “We’re looking forward to opening very much.

“I am pleased that some of the older dealers are coming back. It is a real vote of confidence.”

It has a new tea room and toilet facilities, a new kitchen and the walls have been knocked through to create a more open space.

The building houses antiques from more than 80 dealers and is one of the largest in the country.

More than 70 per cent of the old dealers have returned and the centre only has two spaces left to rent out.

But Mrs Langer said seeing the damage last September had been devastating.

She said: “I arrived and there was a lot of damage. It was awful. All the staff came down as well and we were all very shocked.

“A lot of the people have been connected to the centre for 15 years and more, for them it is their lives and seeing it like that was very emotional.”

And she admitted it had been touch and go as to whether the centre would even reopen.

She said: “Until we found out exactly what happened and whether we would get paid out by the insurance company, it was very uncertain.

“A lot of people thought we would shut up shop, but we have not.”

It took seven crews to bring the fire under control, and it was so fierce that within 15 minutes flames could be seen pouring through the roof.

About a third of the build and the roof were destroyed.

But concrete walls and the quick response of the fire service meant most of the antiques were salvageable.

Station Mill Antiques Centre will reopen at 10am on May 28, and customers will be able to enter a prize draw to win vouchers.