EMERGENCY repairs were carried out at the Jade restaurant in St Mary Street, Chepstow, this week after a gaping hole was discovered in the roof.

The restaurant has undergone extensive refurbishment after the front of the building needed urgent attention during the summer, when the front surface of the building became unstable. Now near the end of the work, water was found to be pouring down the walls after the recent heavy rain.

Contract workers renovating the Alms houses in Bridge Street, were called to help at the Jade restaurant when water was found dripping down the newly painted walls.

It was soon discovered there was a hole in the roof measuring four foot, by four foot square - where some believe a chimney stack was removed quite some time ago.

Mr Williams, who runs his own construction company based in Lydney, said: "It appears a chimney was removed some time ago and a patch-up job was carried out.

"The weight of the recent down pour caused part of the roof to cave in. We were working on the Alms houses around the corner, when people from the restaurant came and asked us to help them. It was a little complicated because we had to get different permission from Monmouthshire county council before we could carry out the work which was a bit tricky; but we are glad we were able to assist them."

A spokesman for the Jade restaurant say they are due to re-open for business on December 12 between 12noon to 2pm, and 5.30 - 11.30pm.