A SCRAPYARD owner has vowed to rebuild his business after his office was destroyed in an arson attack.

Sadam Shahid, aged 27, who runs S&S Motors, in Derby Street, Daubhill, said his computer, paper files and keys to all the vehicles were lost in the blaze.

He said: "It's terrible. I'm really angry. I'm going to have to order a skip, clear the whole lot up and start again. We get fires and burglaries all the time."

Fire officers believe arsonists set light to a pile of rubbish left outside the business by fly-tippers. It burned through the firm's boundary fence and set light to a pile of tyres.

Mr Shahid arrived at the yard on Monday morning to find a mound of twisted metal and charred plastics where his office had stood. He said the land outside the yard was a frequent target for fly-tippers.

He said: "I'm going to get CCTV cameras to see if that helps."

Four fire crews arrived at the site shortly after 3am on Monday to find flames shooting 20 feet into the air.

Derby Street was closed for an hour as there were fears that gas cylinders might explode. Firefighters used hose jets to prevent the fire spreading to other businesses at nearby Derby Mill.

Watch Commander Ian Duckworth, of Bolton Central Fire Station, said: "It was quite a severe fire. By the time we arrived it was rapidly developing and spreading towards the mill. Firefighters were put at risk because there was the possibility of an explosion.

"We've been trying to warn businesses and homeowners that if there is a pile of rubbish next to their premises, it becomes a prime target for arsonists. Even if the rubbish has been fly-tipped by someone else, people need to be aware it may pose be a danger."