The home of a former Russian spy who was poisoned by novichok is to be dismantled by military personnel.

Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia are believed to have first been targeted with the nerve agent at his home in Salisbury on 5 March when it was sprayed on the front door handle.

Clean up and decontamination work has been ongoing since then but will continue for about four months as military teams dismantle and remove the home's roof.

Image: Army vehicles (right) and lorries carrying scaffolding (rear left) arrive at the home

A letter seen by the Press Association indicates this next stage, which was due to begin on 7 January, will be more extensive and could cause disruption to neighbours.

:: Timeline: How the Wiltshire novichok poisonings unfolded


Image: Sergei and Yulia Skripal were attacked with novichok and found slumped on a bench in Salisbury in March

The letter, dated 4 January and signed by Wiltshire Council's director of public heath, Tracy Daszkiewicz, it said contractors would spend the first month erecting scaffolding to cover the house and the garage with a "sealed frame".

A military team will then dismantle and remove the roofs on both buildings over the course of two weeks.

Everything will be wrapped and sealed before being removed from the site. The roofs will be replaced.

Image: Yulia Skripal made a recovery from the attack

The letter added: "All materials will be wrapped and sealed on site before being removed safely from the premises.

"Once the covered frame is in place, the deconstruction work is expected to take around two weeks.

"This specialist work will be carried out by the military team.

Image: Contractors and military personnel wait outside the home as work begins

"When that work is completed, contractors will move on site to build a replacement roof for the house and adjoining garage."

Neighbours have been reassured that the risk to the public remains "low".

Ms Daszkiewicz said the priority was to ensure the sites affected by the incidents are cleaned and "returned to normal use" as soon as possible.

Image: The work is expected to take four months

Mr Skripal, 66, and Yulia, 33, survived the attack in March. They were found slumped on a bench in the city centre after having dinner at Zizzi's restaurant.

Theresa May blamed the attack on Russia and two GRU agents - Anatoliy Chepiga and Alexander Mishkin - believed to have carried out the attack have since been named.

Vladimir Putin and those accused have strenuously denied any involvement.

Image: Contractors and military personnel outside the Skripal home

As well as affecting Mr Skripal and Ms Skripal, detective sergeant Nick Bailey fell ill after coming into contact with the agent as he searched the home.

He has since revealed he and his family lost their house and all their possessions in the aftermath of the attack.

He said the emotional side of recovery had been trickier than the physical side.

Image: Contractors carry wooden scaffolding planks outside the home of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal

Dawn Sturgess, 44, died after falling ill in Amesbury when she came into contact with novichok. It was traced to a perfume bottle.

Her boyfriend Charlie Rowley, 45, was also taken ill but survived.

He said he fears the effects of the poison will kill him within a decade.

Image: Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey was poisoned with novichok when he went to the house. Pic: Matthew Hunter/BBC

Salisbury saw a decline in tourism after the attacks, and urged visitors to spend Christmas in the city in an attempt to pull people back in.

The city is set for a £500,000 advertising boost in February and March, as part of a £3.7m grant from the government to help it rebuild.