Research lab rises from the ashes

Gas canisters exploded in the building during the blaze

A leading computer science research unit in Hampshire has reopened at the cost of £55m three years to the day it was ravaged by fire.

The Mountbatten building at the University of Southampton was destroyed by the non-suspicious blaze in 2005.

Gas canisters exploded inside the laboratory in Salisbury Road, Highfield, and a 100ft (30.5m) plume of smoke was seen from miles around.

The new unit was opened on Thursday and houses 250 students and researchers.

Their work will focus on microelectronics and nanotechnology.

The Mountbatten building has undergone a £55m rebuild

Prof Harvey Rutt, from the university's school of electronics and computer science, said: "The new building has literally risen like a phoenix from the ashes of its predecessor.

"It fully realises the university's commitment made the day after the fire, to ensure that our research would continue in even better and more appropriate surroundings.

"Technologies being used every day have been developed in Southampton.

"Those technologies will continue to be developed in the new facility and I have no doubt in 10 years time people will be using new things that emerge from this new building."