DEAN Heritage Centre's roof may have to be replaced at a cost of quarter of a million pounds following the fire which tore through the storage attics in December.

A decision on a way forward is expected after a meeting at the end of this week, but the repair works and the recent snows mean the Soudley Valley centre is now unlikely to reopen until the end of February. It is believed the roof's plastic fixing were damaged by the blaze and the entire roof will have to come off, with scaffolding and a dummy roof protecting the building.

Forensic experts acting for the centre's insurers are also due to carry out a detailed investigation this Friday (January 22) to establish the exact cause of the fire, which remains a mystery.