HOUSEHOLDERS whose homes were gutted by the Fulford Place blaze in York should be able to move back in by next summer - a year after the devastating fire.

Builder Taylor Woodrow has confirmed they have now started to rebuild the roof of the complex, of which large parts were destroyed by the blaze on May 13.

Spokesman Ian Morris said it was hoped to move a first wave of occupants back into their homes by the end of May next year.

"We've sent a note out to all leaseholders informing them that we hope to get the first people back in by the end of May.

"If all goes well, everyone should be back in by the summer," he said.

The inferno sparked huge controversy after a fire investigation raised serious questions over the construction of the building, including the way a 'sandwich panel' roof structure had not been separated by compartment walls.

But Mr Morris said the builder was "working in close co-operation" with the council's building control department on the reconstruction work.

Dan Adams, 32, whose Fulford Place flat was destroyed by the blaze, said he would have liked to have been back home in time for Christmas.

Dan, who has been living in temporary accommodation with his girlfriend Michelle, said: "I've not heard a bean for ages.

"It would have been great to be back in for Christmas. It's one of those things."

Kate McCarthy, 33, was also forced to move out of Fulford Place after her flat was severely damaged in the aftermath of the fire.

Now living in Wheldrake, she said the implications of the fire had made her nervous about the prospect of moving back into her flat.

"I don't want to go back there," she said. "When I lived in that flat, I loved living there, but now I don't want to go back there at all."

Ward councilor Andy d'Agorne said the work to reconstruct the flats had taken a long time, but that this had been expected.

He said: "I think the most important point is that residents are reassured all the necessary adaptations have been made to make sure the place is safe to live in - that also goes for the people in the blocks that weren't affected. They're all the same design."

Updated: 09:45 Wednesday, November 30, 2005