BUILDERS working round the clock are rapidly transforming Center Parcs from a charred shell to being bigger and better than ever. Bosses have said work to rebuild the site is on schedule and visitors will be able to return by spring.

BUILDERS working round the clock are rapidly transforming Center Parcs from a charred shell to being bigger and better than ever.

Bosses have said work to rebuild the site is on schedule and visitors will be able to return by spring.

Managers also promised that 280 staff who lost their jobs as a result of the blaze in April would be given first refusal when their positions are reinstated in time for the centre's opening.

"The staff we let go will be approached first, and they will be offered any positions as a first choice. Any additional external recruitment will then start in January," said Don Camilleri, director of development and engineering.

"We are receiving more bookings than expected at the moment, and Elveden will be full again next August."

The replacement £40m construction covers a space of 27,000 square metres. An additional £12m has also been set aside to fund new features and villas, increasing the capacity of park by an extra 200 guests.

And those guests will benefit, officials hope, from new Indian restaurants, an extended pool and health and beauty spa designed to improve their holiday experience.

"We have opened up the design to link the two buildings which are still standing after the fire, using a river running through a new village square area directly into our lake," added Mr Camilleri.

"We have saved most of the structure of the dome, and reconditioned the metal legs to make it safe and workable. We are quite optimistic that it will be reglazed and recovered by the end of the year.

"We can see a lot of progress so far – no-one would believe the reconstruction project only started 11 weeks ago."