Rebuild started on Stafford Salvation Army base destroyed in arson blaze

The charity centre in Faraday Road in Stafford was gutted by the blaze last August after yobs set light wheelie bins and the flames spread to the building.

It was first thought the rebuild would cost £250,000, but because of the amount of damage, the repair work will now cost an additional £60,000.

The Christian charity is insured for the cost of the exterior work but organisers have said they will need more help for the interior refurbishment, which was also destroyed.

Bosses hope to have the centre open again in July.

Cremin Construction moved onto the site on Monday to undertake a 16-week project to repair the centre.

Linda Downward, officer in charge at the base said: "The exterior rebuild alone will cost £310,000.

"We are covered by insurance for that but the inside will need to be refurbished which we are vastly under insured for."

She added: "You can't dwell on what has gone, we are just building for the future now."

The charity hopes the building work will be completed by June and organisers hope the base will be ready to use again by mid July.

Builders have this week started work on the interior and Mrs Downward said: "The whole roof has gone, so our first job was to clean up and strip everything out.

"Builders will work on the interior first and we hope work will start on a new roof in about three weeks."

Mrs Downward said: "It's a mixture of feelings.

"I'm excited to see the work start but the last five months have been a long slog, holding a church community and our activities together without a base.

"However there is a sense of satisfaction to get started on the rebuild and we are looking forward to new opportunities."

Once the rebuild is completed the charity will have to appeal for donations to help furnish the centre.

Mrs Downward said: "We will have to rely on the wonderful generosity of our community.

"All the chairs and comfortable seating were destroyed by the roof collapsing. The piano was also damaged beyond repair.

"We lost everything when the debris came in. We need office furniture, kitchen equipment and utensils right down to plates and cups, all the little things you take for granted in a public place."

The Salvation Army has been active in Stafford for 125 years and the base was used daily by a variety of community groups and activities.

Organisers were inundated with offers to help in the aftermath of the blaze and Mrs Downward said: "We are planning a grand opening and celebration in July, to thank everyone for their support.

"The community have been incredible and we feel very blessed by all the support we have received, it has really lifted us to get through this."

More than 30 firefighters tackled the blaze for five hours in the early hours of August 29 and police are still investigating.

A 19-year-old man was taken into custody on August 29 on suspicion of arson but was later released without charge.