PAINSTAKING redevelopment work is to begin on a fire-damaged amusement arcade before the end of the year.

J Noble and Sons Amusements, in Chester-le-Street, has been derelict since February, when a blaze ripped through the building.

Arsonists were blamed for the fire, which required 25 fire fighters to put out.

But when owner Jason Noble applied to Chester-le-Street District Council for planning permission to rebuild the damaged premises, the council decided to apply for listed building status for the 18th Century building after consulting with English Heritage.

It will be six months before the council hears whether the status will be granted, but until then Jason Noble has been given the go-ahead to begin some repairs, as long as the historic front of the building is not altered.

The council's director of planning and development Tom Watson said a revised scheme to develop the back of the site and not the front had been approved at the last planning meeting.

Eventually the arcade, which has been in the building for 25 years, will be expanded and a coffee shop and bakery will be installed at the front of the building.

Mr Noble said: "We're treating the building as if it's listed and we're happy that the planning meeting decided we could go ahead with some of the repairs. It's going to be a difficult job, but we just have to grin and bear it."