A BURY building contractor has been awarded an £800,00O-plus contract for repairing damage caused by the Manchester bomb blast.

Thomas Barnes & Sons Plc is reinstating three bomb-damaged office buildings surrounding Shambles Square.

The contract with P&O Shopping Centres Ltd is for window replacements and selective internal refurbishments to Adamson House, Cannon House and MacIntosh House.

They were hit by the IRA bomb which exploded on June 15 this year.

A spokesman said the work was well underway and would be completed in February.

A spokesman said: "We won the contract following a competitive tender process and we are delighted to be assisting in the re-building of Manchester's city centre."

Architects for the project are the Ratcliff Partnership Ltd supported by Banks Wood and Partners (quantity surveyors), OVE ARUP & Partners (structural consulting engineers) and Roberts & Partners (mechanical and electrical consulting engineers).

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