Roof removed from home of Sergei Skripal as decontamination work continues

Bricks and rubble are removed from Sergei Skripal’s house in Salisbury Credit: Ben Birchall/PA

Work to decontaminate the home of a former Russian spy poisoned in Salisbury is continuing, with plastic sheeting and scaffolding erected around the home.

On Monday, workers were pictured removing bags and breeze blocks from the building near the city centre.

Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were hospitalised by the suspected Russian plot in March last year. The pair survived, but a woman died after handling a counterfeit bottle of perfume thought to have been used in the attack.

Scaffolding and plastic sheeting have been erected around the property in Salisbury. Credit: PA

Military teams are now working to dismantle parts of the Skripal's home, a two-storey building in a quiet residential street close to the city's railway station.

DEFRA said the team is formed of the same specialists who cleaned up other locations in Wiltshire in the aftermath of the attack. It added that the operation is "highly precautionary."

Parts of Salisbury affected by the attack have now started to reopen. The Zizzi restaurant where the Skirpals first felt the effects of the posion has reopened its door to customers.

Teams have been working to decontaminate the property following the attack. Credit: PA

Part of the work will see the property's roof dismantled and a neighbouring garage removed as specialist teams seek to prevent any further harm coming from the nerve agent.

Last month, Wiltshire Council wrote to people living in the affected area to warn them that the building work was likely to last several months.

Teams are working to remove the roof from the property following the attack. Credit: PA

Detectives believe that the father and daughter first came into contact with the substance after it was sprayed on the door handle of the property. A police officer, Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, was also hospitalised after searching the property. He has since been released and returned to work.

The father and daughter were the subject of the nerve agent attack. Credit: PA

Dawn Sturgess fell ill in Amesbury months in July after coming into contact with a perfume bottle believed to have been used in the attack on the Skripals and then discarded.

Her partner, Charlie Rowley also spent time in hospital after coming into contact with the substance but was later discharged. He has spoken about his ongoing fears following the poisoning.

Two men have been accused in carrying out the attack on behalf of Russia. Credit: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire/PA Images

British authorities have pointed the finger at the Kremlin for orchestrating the attack. The two suspects – known by their aliases Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov – were caught on CCTV in Salisbury the day before the attack.

Theresa May previously said the attack had “almost certainly,” been approved by the Russian state.