THE boss of a vehicle repair and restoration business is waiting to see if his workshop can be saved after a blaze wrecked nearly half the building.

Steve Grant was called out to Pucklechurch Trading Estate by security staff after the fire broke out at his Transtek Services premises on Friday night.

He rushed to the single-storey workshop to find the front section engulfed in flames and night shift workers at a nearby parcel depot evacuated.

The following morning he returned to assess the damage but wasn't allowed in because the section of building affected was too dangerous.

The fire broke out just after 10pm on Friday, with fire crews from Kingswood first on the scene.

Avon Fire and Rescue spokesman James Bladon said firefighters arrived to find the blaze had taken hold and had to call for back-up.

Throughout the incident there were crews from Yate, Speedwell, Brislington, Southmead, Bedminster, Portishead and Avonmouth at the premises.

With acetylene containers within the workshop, there were fears they could explode and workers at the Nightfreight delivery firm had to leave.

The cylinders were found unaffected by the heat and flames and removed.

Mr Bladon said: "Thanks to the efforts of the crews, the fire was contained to the front of the building. But that area was severely damaged, including the roof.

"The cause is unknown and an investigation is taking place. In all, the crews were there for two-and-a-half hours and some also went back later to check the premises."

Mr Grant, of Hanham, and his nine staff repair and restore cars, lorries, buses and other vehicles, including classic models.

He said: "When I went back on Saturday morning, I wasn't allowed into the building because it was too dangerous.

"There were a few vehicles inside, including an £80,000 lorry which I'd just finished painting that day."

Mr Grant, who does work for bus company First and National Express, has been at Pucklechurch for five years after moving from St Philip's.

He rents the premises and now has to see the extent of the damage before knowing if he can continue at the site.