A SHOP which was wrecked in the summer after the roof collapsed in a flash flood has re-opened after a £100,000 repair job.

Cook, which sells upmarket frozen meals, was wrecked by the accident last July.

Owner Elaine Sullman said putting right the damage had taken longer than anyone expected. “The insurance experience has been pretty lengthy, very technical and very challenging,” she said.

But she said customers had continued to offer her support throughout the closure.

“When I’ve seen my customers out and about, they’ve been amazing. I’ve had people come up and give me cuddles that wouldn’t have done that in the shop,” she said.

Two staff were kept on throughout the closure.

The pace of repairs increased in the final weeks so that the shop could be trading before Christmas.

“It looks different but looks beautiful. We’re trying to create something that’s warm and looks a bit more like a kitchen. There’s a country kitchen feel about the shop,” said Elaine.

She added: “We were thrilled with the reception that we received upon opening our doors. We were busy all day and takings were excellent. “ Shoppers on the re-opening day were welcomed by West End operatic singer Richard Knight, who serenaded passers-by and entertained with a range of food-related songs.

Cook has existed as a business since 1997 and Elaine has owned the franchise in Westbourne for three years.

It offers home delivery to most BH postcodes and has just launched a ‘click and collect service’.

“The majority of our customers are cooks in their own right and they come to us because they’re time-deprived but they appreciate the quality of the food that has been hand prepared,” said Elaine.

“People do travel to get to us because you can’t get what we do anywhere else. There isn’t anything like it on the market.”