REPAIR work has started to replace a badly fire-damaged roof at a Darlington car dealership.

About £800,000-worth of damage was cause in the blaze, at the Williamson Motors garage in Chesnut Street, last Sep- tember.

The fire started in the workshop after a car's electric motor failed to switch off and overheated before bursting into flames.

Since then, it has been business as usual for the company.

The smoke-damaged showroom has been completely refurbished, while the office staff have been moved across the road to their W2 site.

Any vehicle repairs or services will continue to be carried out at a separate workshop next to Williamson Motors.

The work on the roof is expected to take about 12 weeks to complete.

The workshop needs to be re-wired and have heating installed, and the first-floor offices need to be decorated.

Simon Williamson, managing director of the company, said: "We have been forced to move everyone to other premises while the work is ongoing.

"It will cause a little inconvenience to our staff, but I must stress it is business as usual while the restoration of the roof is in progress, and it will not affect the level of care and service to our customers."