ALMOST a year to day since the novichok poisoning last year, decontamination work in Salisbury has now been completed.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has today announced that the final site of decontamination in Salisbury, the Skripal's house on Christie Miller Road, is now safe following extensive cleaning and testing by specialist teams.

It has now been handed to the South Wiltshire Recovery Coordinating Group.

Alistair Cunningham, chair of the South Wiltshire recovery coordinating group, said it is a "significant moment", and that south Wiltshire can now "look to the future."

He added: “It is good news that the site at Christie Miller Road has been handed back following extensive cleaning by specialist teams.

“This is a significant moment for Salisbury, Amesbury and south Wiltshire as this property is the final site to be completed as part of the complex and extensive clean-up operation.

"We are continuing to talk to the residents on the future of the property as it is important their views are taken into account on how it is used in the future.

“I would also like to thank our partners for their skills and expertise and the diligence they have shown in dealing with this unprecedented situation.

"This clean-up operation has been a shining example of partnership working in extremely testing circumstances.

“Salisbury has proved it is resilient, positive and looking forward and we are working on a range of regeneration projects and events to focus on an even better future for the city and south Wiltshire.”

Over the last 11 months, around 190 military personnel from the Royal Air Force and Army, supported by specialist contractors, have undertaken highly specialised decontamination work as part of our precautionary approach to the clean-up across the twelve sites identified in Salisbury and Amesbury.

In recognition of their painstaking work, the CBRN Task Force were awarded the ‘Hero at Home – Unit’ at the Sun’s The Sun Military Awards ceremony in December.

Brigadier David Southall, Chief of Staff of Standing Joint Command, said: “The incredibly complex decontamination work carried out by the Armed Forces over the past twelve months, in collaboration with their multi-agency partners, reflects the expertise, courage and selfless commitment of our Servicemen and women in getting the job done and done well.

“The handover of the site at Christie Miller Road effectively now concludes the significant military contribution to support Salisbury and Amesbury following the novichok nerve agent attack on March 4, 2018.”

Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey said: “I want to thank all involved in the decontamination process in what has been a challenging year.

"Their professionalism, expertise and thoroughness have been exemplary.”