BATTLING garage owner Kevin Odlum is fighting back this week after a devastating fire at his Rode Heath business.

Thousands of pounds worth of damage were caused by a late-night blaze on Friday at the garage, which gutted an office block and wrecked the parts department.

Many office records were destroyed in the fire, which started in the parts department and spread to the adjoining offices and reception area.

Mr Odlum is determined to get back into business as quickly as possible, however, and has set up temporary stores and offices at the Knutsford Road garage.

"A member of staff who was in the showroom at about 10.20pm saw smoke coming from the roof of the parts department,'' said Mr Odlum.

"The fire brigade doused the fire and left at 12.30pm. I arrived after they had left, but phoned them back after seeing the fire smouldering under the eaves of the office block.

"When they arrived the offices were well alight, and are completely gutted, with the roof and the windows gone.

"We lost a lot of records and parts, and it's been a small disaster. However our main aim is to get back into business, and we are open as normal.''

The fire is being blamed on either an electrical fault or a problem with an oil-fired heater in the parts department.

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