A YEAR ago Pontypool town centre was brought to a standstill when a fire ripped through a charity shop and flats above.

Now renovation works are under way with Melin Homes, who own the building, planning to return it to its original layout.

On August 15 last year, fire tore through the three storey building on Hanbury Road, gutting the ground floor St David’s Foundation charity shop.

The works are due to be completed by November and St David’s Foundation will be returning to the store.

Deputy CEO of St David’s Hospice Care, Adrian Hadley, said: “We are very pleased that work has started to reinstate the building and our shop in Pontypool following the fire last August.

“It was a blow to lose the shop in such circumstances and are looking forward to again serving the Pontypool public who have been a tremendous support of the hospice over the years.”

The fire destroyed the St David’s Foundation charity shop on the ground floor and wrecked two floors of flats above it.

Fire investigators found that the fire was started accidentally, and the cause of the fire, which started on the ground floor, was down to a faulty fridge.

Fifty firefighters from across Gwent were called to deal with the fire at about 1.15am on the Friday.

Cafe, Bread of Heaven, opened its doors in the early hours to those evacuated from the flats.

It wasn't until 5pm that Hanbury Road reopened to traffic, with residents reporting tailbacks leading back to Crumlin Road.

Fire engines attended the blaze from New Inn, Cwmbran, Abersychan, Cardiff, Maindee and Abercarn and stayed at the building for much of Friday.

A man in his 60s was rescued from a second floor flat. He was taken to hospital after being overcome by smoke and was said to be “recovering well”.

Despite managing to bring the fire under control at about 1.50am, 35 firefighters remained at the building during the day to dampen it down.

Smoke could still be seen rising from the building eight hours after the fire had broken out.

The ground floor of the 80 metre by 20 metre building was said to be 50 percent damaged by the fire and 50 percent damaged by smoke.

After inspection, a Torfaen council spokesman confirmed that the building was structurally sound and that there was no reason for demolishing it following the damage.