A well-known charity hopes to bounce back later this year after an arsonist caused more than £90,000 worth of damage to its city store.

British Red Cross had to close its St Benedicts Street shop in February after a homeless man set its doorway on fire.

In May, Darren Ince, 57, of no fixed address, admitted arson with intent to endanger life and arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.

The British Red Cross shop in St Benedicts Street has been closed since FebruaryThe British Red Cross shop in St Benedicts Street has been closed since February (Image: Newsquest)

The head of the Norwich branch hopes the shop will reopen soon.

Howard Bowles, head of retail south for the charity, said: "Since the fire at our St Benedicts Street shop, we have been working hard to carry out the necessary repair work in order to reopen as soon as possible.

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"We are now hopeful we can begin to accept donations again in mid-August, with the aim to reopen the shop fully in September.  

Howard Bowles, head of retail south at British Red Cross, said he hopes to reopen the shop fully in SeptemberHoward Bowles, head of retail south at British Red Cross, said he hopes to reopen the shop fully in September (Image: LinkedIn)

"Our staff and volunteers are looking forward to welcoming people back to the store."

Mr Bowles added the charity was "saddened by the news of the fire" when it happened.

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Emergency services were called to the shop at 10.15pm on February 25 after reports of a fire.

Emergency services were called to the British Red Cross shop in St Benedicts Street at 10.15pm on February 25 after reports of a fireEmergency services were called to the British Red Cross shop in St Benedicts Street at 10.15pm on February 25 after reports of a fire (Image: Newsquest)Darren InceDarren Ince was handed an extended six-and-a-half-year sentence at Norwich Crown Court on July 3(Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

No one was injured in the blaze but Norwich Crown Court was told the shop had suffered extensive damage and was forced to close.

During his sentencing last Wednesday, Ince was given an extended six-and-a-half-year sentence - made up of four-and-a-half years in custody and two years on licence. 

Recorder Michael Turner told Ince it appeared to be a "deliberate attempt to express some form of anger to the charity, or a charity not necessarily the British Red Cross".