CARRS Billington at Hexham has a brand new fuel office after their old one was flooded during Storm Desmond.

Staff members Simon Clayton-Hibbott, Terri-Louise Miller and Helen Buckton are delighted to be in their new accommodation after spending a year working out of a shipping container.

In addition to the new fuel office, Carrs has expanded the range in its country store on the Tyne Mills Industrial Estate in a bid to appeal more to the general public.

Branch manager Mark Tasker-Brown, who looks after eight country stores in West Northumberland and Scotland, said: “We have increased our product range with wild bird food, equine supplies, pet food, lawnmowers and country clothing. We are trying to encourage the general public to shop here as well as farmers.

“In the past I think we’ve been seen as predominantly a machinery depot for the agricultural community but obviously we are more than that and we would like to increase that awareness.”

New signage on Hexham Bridge directing people to the country store has already led to increased footfall says store supervisor Willie Reay.

“It’s had an effect already, we’ve definitely had more people through the doors since the signs went up and some people have said, ‘We’ve lived here 30 years and not realised this was here.”

Mr Tasker-Brown praised staff for how they had dealt with last year’s floods, particularly the fuel office, which still managed to get deliveries out.

“We had about a foot of water right through the fuel office. Now we have a purpose-built office which is raised more than two feet off the ground so that next time, we would be above the level of the water.”

Helen Buckton said: “It’s luxury now considering we were in that green container. Now we have windows, a kitchen for the drivers and a shower and toilet.”