A car salesman and motor engineer has spoken of how a fire has left him without a business and with thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Melvyn Jarvis, 52, owns one of two industrial units in Metton Road near Felbrigg, which were engulfed in fire in the early hours of yesterday.

Mr Jarvis, who runs JMS Motor Engineers and has been at the site in Metton Road for three years, said he heard his phone go in the early hours of the morning but had ignored it, at first thinking it was a private number. Then later on, at around 4.30am, the police came knocking at his door.

Mr Jarvis, who lives in Letheringsett, near Holt, said: 'At first I thought it may have been something with my daughter, as we knew she had been out and we had not heard her come in. The police assured us she was fine but told us the bad news that the workshop was on fire.'

He went to the site with the police but said there was nothing he could do as he watched fire crews from Cromer, Sheringham, Mundesley and Holt battle to put out the flames.

The fire was eventually put out just after 5am, but the road remained closed until late yesterday morning as fire officers carried out checks to make sure the area was safe.

Mr Jarvis said that as yet the cause of the fire was unknown, with fire officers continuing to carry out investigations.

In total three vehicles inside the building were ruined, another five were burned out and four seriously damaged. Mr Jarvis's tools were also ruined.

He said: 'You have to look on the bright side, especially as my first reaction was whether my daughter was okay. In the end it is just bits of metal and cars which have gone. It is a shame as I was starting to build the business up and get more customers.'

But Mr Jarvis has already had an offer of help from a friend based in Corpusty who has offered him space to work.

And he said he was determined to look on the bright side and was now focusing his energy on taking part in a sponsored skydive at Beccles Airfield on Sunday at 12.30pm.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Mr Jarvis can do so by calling 01263 712745 or 07774638665.

tracey.gray@archant.co.uk