More than a quarter of a million pounds has been earmarked to get the Triangle shopping parade back in business after a suspected arson.

The parade in Great Berry, Langdon Hills, is now set to be better than before, with a new convenience store and possibly a lottery counter and post office arising out of the ashes of the fire.

Martin the newsagent has confirmed it will be taking over the former mini supermarket at the other end of the parade which was vacant when the fire started.

A chinese takeaway and a chip shop are the only units in the parade which have been able to stay open since the fire.

Insurers have agreed to pay out about £201,000 towards the cost of refurbishing the three other units mainly affected by the blaze.

This will include repairs costing £93,000 to remove and replace old asbestos roof coverings.

The fire tore through much of the centre and gutted Martin the Newsagent, an off-licence and a hair salon.

Elderly residents have been forced to walk to the nearest counter at the Laindon Centre to pick up their pensions.

Martin the newsagent was bought out by the TM Group which also owns Forbuoys at the end of last year.

A spokesman for the company's retail division said: "We now own 1,420 shops and are keen to open up neighbourhood convenience stores wherever possible.

"We hope the Langdon Hills store will open in spring or early summer and expect to have a post office and lottery counter."

The new store will be open until 10pm seven days a week and will carry an extensive range of groceries as well as more newsagent's goods than before.

The first stage of the work to rebuild the centre is set to begin later this month and should be completed by the end of March.

Martin's move will leave scope for the off-licence and hairdressers to move to bigger premises or for a new business to move into the Triangle.

Basildon Council chairman and Langdon Hills councillor, Bob Sears, said the electricity key charging facility had been missed very much.

A new facility has been set up in the Great Berry Neighbourhood Centre but Mr Sears is concerned the electricity board may now refuse to return it to the shops.

He said: "We've had to wait for insurance and other things to come through since August.

"It's been far too long in my opinion."

Once plans are completed, planning permission will be applied for and the work put out to tender. The shop units should be ready for business again by October.

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