A CITY business which was in tatters after an explosion destroyed its premises has survived the catastrophe and is now looking forward to the future.

Weeks of hard work and thousands of pounds were lost when a huge explosion ripped through a flat above the premises of PS Kitchens and Bathrooms in Droitwich Road last Thursday.

The store was due to open on Saturday, but the blast and the following fire reduced most of the building to rubble.

The owners Paul and Karen Simpson were offered a lifeline when their former landlord said they could remain in their old premises in Fernhill Heath temporarily, but they were still at a loss and devastated about what had happened.

Mrs Simpson said: "My husband had put so much hard work into it. They had worked until 10 or 11pm on most nights.

"We just kept thinking, what are we going to do?

"We've been trading for three years and we've just built up a good customer base, we were expanding into bathrooms, that was the reason we were moving into these bigger premises."

The couple knew that they could not wait for the store to be repaired. They were told it could take up to 18 months with the insurance and planning permission.

Then they were then given another lifeline, a second chance in the form of an empty shop on Ombersley Road, just around the corner from the damaged premise.

"My husband went just round the corner and there it was," said Mrs Simpson.

"It is quite a decent little shop," she added.

They picked up the keys on Monday morning and are gearing up to move in.

It will take 10 weeks to refurbish the store, which is the old This and That shop, but Mrs Simpson said they have to be thankful nobody was hurt in the explosion.

"My little boy, who is five, was in the shop just a few days before it happened. It could have been the end of my world completely."

The company is still trading from the Fernhill Heath shop and they hope the Ombersley Road store will be open by November.

l Christopher Wysocki, of Droitwich Road, Worcester, has appeared in Worcester Magistrates Court charged with arson with intent to endanger life in relation to an incident in Droitwich Road which occurred on Thursday, September 14.

The 22-year-old entered no plea and the case has been adjourned until Thursday, September 21.