Stan Batty from Prospect Garage, who owns Bulldog Engineering, was left devastated after the blaze ripped through his garage in Arundel Place.

Mr Batty (49), did not have insurance to cover the cost of the damage of the fire, which is believed to have started from a leaking propane gas heater.

But Stan, who suffered only singed hair and a burnt beard in the inferno, said he has been amazed by the help and support of everyone in the area.

And he added he wanted to personally pay credit to those who have got involved and helped with the major clean-up of his garage.

"I want to thank all the people who have helped me out", he said.

"I particularly want to thank the younger generation in the area because they have been absolutely brilliant.

"It was nice to see the youngsters helping me and I wanted to make people aware of what they have done because they have been fantastic and it is normally the younger generation who get a lot of bad publicity.

"I just couldn't believe the attitude of the lads who helped me out.

"They were here the day after, working on the garage and it got the point on the Saturday night where I was shattered.

"I said to them I'd have to go to bed because I was so tired and they just said to me 'you go to bed and we will sort it out for you'.

"I just couldn't believe it."

Stan said he couldn't name everyone, but singled out three people who came to his aid.

"Simon Lee and Dan Coates were magnificent as was Steve Daley who did an enormous amount of work," he said.

"Dan was here with a digger to clear the garage out straight away.

"I wouldn't have got this kind of help if I was still in Leeds.

"The neighbours and young people have just been fantastic."

Mr Batty, who has already sold a Rolls Royce he owned to try to raise funds to rebuild his livelihood, said although the fire has left him in a devastating position, he is not going to give up his business and vowed to carry on.

"I can't get to grips with what has happened", he said.

"At the moment I just don't know what I'm going to do, but I do know it is not going to stop me," he said.

"A lot of work has gone in that garage due to the fire and I'm just trying to rebuild it and get back to work.

"At the moment I'm just doing the scrapyard run, that's all I can do."

"I came here to wind down and retire from Leeds and I've got the bug to live here.