It is hard to believe that this was once a bustling convenience store in the heart of Southampton.

Internal walls have been demolished, freezers emptied and plasterboard removed after the city centre shop was ruined by a massive sewage leak.

But four months after it was left swimming in gallons of contaminated water, work has finally begun to restore the Co-op Welcome store, in Terminus Terrace, to its former glory.

Staff at the store were forced to throw away nine skips full of food, drink and cigarettes worth £60,000 after they were contaminated by gallons of muck when caps blew off seven separate pipes in the ceiling.

Bosses hoped to reopen in January, but owner Richard Inglis said the process of sanitising, disinfecting and stripping back the site to “a shell” had taken longer than expected – and left behind a repair bill of more than £400,000.

But workmen have this week moved in to rebuild the store, with Mr Inglis now hoping to reopen on May 5.

He said: “It’s a relief to see work start. It’s been a long process. The insurance company have been great, but everything takes time and it’s taken longer than I would have liked. I’ve been quite impatient!

“But finally we are getting there and looking good for an opening at the start of May.

“We are closer and closer to opening again so that’s a nice feeling. It will be a big weight off my shoulders.”

Mr Inglis has redesigned the shop layout and promised that it will come back “bigger and better”, with special offers and competitions on offer for customers in its opening week.