Plans to open a new takeaway in Thornbury are continuing despite it catching fire last week.

Owners of Hawkes House, James Murray and Simon Extance, are in the process of converting a horse box into House Box - which will be used to sell takeaway pizzas while their cafe bar is forced to remain closed.

Their new venture had a setback however when the wood oven failed and started a fire in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The damage has now been repaired, with the opening delayed by only a week.

"It's taken a few days of hard graft," said James, who wanted to thank the community for their messages of support following the fire.

"You don't think the year could get any worse and then the phone rings at four o'clock in the morning."

Hawkes House and sister site Coates House in Nailsea have been closed for much of the last 12 months, with 45 members of staff placed on furlough.

"It's been tough," said James.

"We have been in business for 10 years and it's something we never envisaged. We have tried to stumble our way through it like everyone else.

"We have had the grants but they have not been enough to be honest. We are really fortunate to have had local support in the few months we opened.

"Everybody came back to support us, without that we would have been struggling to pay the bills.

"The suppliers have been superb throughout. They have always been there for us. As have the staff, they have come in when we have needed them."

House Box will be located in the garden of Hawkes House and is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from January 29.

Food and hot drinks will be served during the day, with wood fired sourdough pizza on offer in the evening.

The pizzas will be topped with local, seasonal produce and new ones will be available every week.

"It's not going to be your typical ham and pineapple," said James.

House Box may open on other days if it proves popular and in the long term will be available on weekends and for events.

"It is something we have wanted to have for ages," James added.

"If the demand is there we will keep going.

"We have felt that the hospitality industry has been victimised a little bit. We are planning for an April opening at best.

"Hopefully this can carry us through to when things get back to normal."