WORK is set to start on the next phase of the £30million redevelopment of a Colchester store.

Contractors Sir Robert McAlpine are due to start work next month on creating the skeleton of the new building being constructed behind Williams & Griffin.

Customers will be able to watch progress on the site from a special viewing window installed on the second floor in the furniture department.

The project will see the High Street store increase its retail space by 50 per cent.

Work on the refurbishment of the Tudor building, fronting the High Street, has also begun.

This will become a temporary main entrance to the store when the current one is revamped next year. A walkway linking the main store with the temporary building, which has become the shoe hall, has been completed.

Carl Milton, managing director of Williams & Griffin, said the good progress also meant the shop’s famous Christmas windowwill still go ahead.

He added: “Planning for Christmas is now at an advanced stage and we are pleased to announce we will have animated windows across all of our front of store windows this year.”

They will be unveiled on November 30 at 2pm before the town’s festive lights are switched on.