Oxfordshire funeral home reopens after arson attack

Howard Chadwick Funeral Service was attacked on the same day the council offices were targeted

A funeral home devastated by fire in a series of major arson attacks has reopened.

Howard Chadwick Funeral Service was badly damaged in the blaze on 15 January, along with South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse offices in Crowmarsh Gifford.

A cottage in Quakers Corner, Rokemarsh, near Benson was also targeted.

Co-owner Alistair Cox said the undertaker's looked "fantastic" after £100,000 of repairs were carried out.

The refurbishments were covered by insurance pay outs.

Mr Cox said: "The whole of the offices needed totally gutting... everything from top to bottom.

"Things did go through my head when it first happened in January.

"I started to think the worst and in all fairness the general public have been absolutely fantastic to us and we've had calls, offers to help and everybody's come to our doors and spoken to us.

"They've been more than considerate."

Andrew Main, 47, of Rokemarsh Farm, Rokemarsh, has been charged with two counts of arson with intent to endanger life and two of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

He is due to face trial at Oxford Crown Court on 10 April.

Staff have been working from other buildings or from home since the council offices were damaged