OCADO have submitted plans to rebuild their distribution site in the town after a fire devastated their warehouse earlier this year.

As previously reported in the Advertiser, a fire that broke out on the company's Walworth Business Park site in February needed more than 200 firefighters and four days to fight the blaze.

Now, the company have submitted plans to Test Valley Borough Council for a return to the town.

The site will have three sprinkler tanks, which is one more than it previously did, as well as a multi-storey car park and a van wash facility.

It was previously home to 1,000 robots that picked groceries ordered by people online.

Demolition of the site has been completed, and, if approved, it is expected to take a year to build the new site.

Commenting on the proposal, Andover Town Council expressed their "full support" to the application, adding: "Members wished to ... offer their congratulations to Ocado for staying within Andover Town."

A decision is due in mid-January, with 1,700 staff expected to work at the new site.

Ocado claim that the February 5 blaze cost it £110m, whilst fighting the fire cost the fire service £132,000.

An investigation by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service found an electrical fault at a battery charging unit caused the plastic lid on the top of a robot, used to carry groceries, to catch light.

A report also found a detection system failed and staff turned off the sprinklers, before it was realised the fire was not extinguished and the system was turned on again.

People took to social media to express their delight at the new plans.

Stephen Head said that it was "good news for Andover", whilst Michael Dean Hammond added: "That'll be good for Andover."

Lisa Armstrong said: "This looks fantastic - how exciting!"