One of Birmingham’s longest-established city centre shops is back up and running – after a massive flood caused £100,000 of damage.

Birmingham jewellers Rex Johnson was forced to shut last month when a burst pipe flooded and wrecked the Corporation Street shop – with ceilings, walls and the front window destroyed.

But a huge salvage operation has seen the shop, whose origins in Birmingham city centre date back nearly 50 years, re-open in time for the crucial Christmas trading period.

And boss David Johnson, whose father opened the family’s first city centre shop in 1964, said the firm would be compensated following negotiations with Severn Trent Water.

Owner David Johnson of Rex Johnson & Sons family jewellers on Corporation Street in Birmingham city centre
Owner David Johnson of Rex Johnson & Sons family jewellers on Corporation Street in Birmingham city centre

The water giant has already apologised for the flood and sent out a team of workers to help clear up the mess, and now the shop is runnning a ‘flood damage sale’ to help it get back on its feet.

David Johnson said: “We were closed for 23 days and it was hardly an ideal time for it to happen because it is very much the time of the year when people are looking for Christmas presents, and they are likely to have gone elsewhere.

“Severn Trent are totally culpable and the costs of renewal, replenishing and loss of profits are down to them.

“We will be compensated but it is so abstract what the actual loss figure will be. I estimate it has cost us £100,000.”

Mr Johnson added: “Any flood is bad, and when it’s a flood at a building which was built in 1910, it’s even more complicated.

“We had to clear everything out of the shop – it has just been a shell.

Damage at Rex Johnson & Sons family jewellers on Corporation Street in Birmingham city centre
Damage at Rex Johnson & Sons family jewellers on Corporation Street in Birmingham city centre

“The window alone cost £15,000, all the electrics had to be done, the ceiling caved in downstairs, and the drying process was three weeks.

“But my staff have been amazing, and Severn Trent have really pulled their finger out. Yes, it was their fault, but they didn’t do it deliberately.

“But we are now up and running again, and looking shining bright, and hopefully, we are going to have a good Christmas.”