A SHOPKEEPER is back in business following a blaze which gutted the flat above her store.

Michelle Turnnidge, aged 46, is over the moon after reopening her More Or Less A Pound shop, which is based in Gresham Road, Dines Green, Worcester.

She was forced to close after a fire in a maisonette above the store resulted in widespread water damage from hoses used by the fire crews on Monday, September 8. Much of her stock was destroyed and the ceiling and flooring had to be replaced.

Mrs Turnnidge said: “We had some smoke damage but the water basically flooded the shop. The carpet went mouldy and everything had to be replaced. It was very stressful.”

Both the shop and maisonette are part of a block owned by Worcester Community Housing (WCH) which sent in a repair team soon after the fire.

The ceiling has now been replaced and re-plastered, new carpet tiles laid and the shop painted and decorated during five weeks of repairs paid for by WCH.

Following a final stock delivery over the weekend the store is due to reopen its doors from 9am today.

Mrs Turnnidge said: “It’s totally different now and 100 per cent better.”

She took on the lease in 2006 after setting up her successful hair salon business Scissor Sisters in Dines Green.

Mrs Turnnidge said: “I knew people needed a shop where they could get things at low prices.”

A fire investigation into the maisonette blaze, in which a man, woman and three children were evacuated concluded it began accidentally. Nobody was injured.

Ian Harkess, community housing head of operations, said: “Everybody has been pleased with how quickly we’ve been able to do the work and for it to be able to reopen.”

He said work on the maisonette was “more complex” but was hopeful the family, who are currently in temporary accommodation, would be back in before Christmas.