A COUPLE whose dream home was gutted in a blaze are putting in safety measures to ensure it cannot happen again.

Peter and Sue Coverdale have begun work to fit a concrete shield in the attic of their grade II-listed farmhouse.

This will lie between the house and a thatched roof, which is to be put on later in the year, replacing the thatch destroyed in the fire almost three months ago.

Mr Coverdale, 49, spent 15 years restoring Levy Pool, at Bowes, near Barnard Castle, County Durham.

The building was described as a historical gem and unique to the North-East, but flames swept through it just as the restoration work was nearing completion.

Mr Coverdale, who owns a masonry contracting firm, said: "We are fitting concrete beams and blocks over the whole attic floor. A timber framework will be put on top, ready for thatch to be fitted by a specialist.

"The concrete will make the house weatherproof, and once the rooms have dried out, we will be able to start on repairs.

"The shield means that if there is ever another fire, it won't be able to spread to or from the thatch."

A forensic expert who studied the damage failed to find the cause of the fire, but said it may have been started by a spark reaching the thatch or self-combustion.

The couple, who have three grown-up children, have been living in a mobile home close to the site.

They have spent about £50,000 on that and on the costs of clearing up, but have not yet received any insurance money. The property was insured for £350,000.

The house was built in the 1600s. After buying it for £60,000 in 1990, the couple decided to restore it to as near its original condition as possible.

Mr Coverdale said: "We put all our time and a great deal of money into making this our dream home, and we had just about finished the job when it was all destroyed.

"Now we are having to start all over again, but at least we know that if there is ever another fire, the results won't be so disastrous."

A specialist from York will carry out the thatch roofing, but is so busy on other schemes that he will not be able to start work until the end of April.