THE bosses of a town centre car repair business watched in despair as they saw their dreams go up in flames in front of their eyes yesterday when fire ripped through the premises destroying more than 20 customers' cars in its wake.

At the height of the blaze, which broke out at lunchtime at KAD Motor Services in Ednall Lane, around 100 residents from nearby Nailers Court were evacuated to the Ryland Centre in New Road. The police station was also cleared, and youngsters at Stoneyhill pre-school in the Baptist Church Hall opposite were ushered to safety as firefighters threw an exclusion zone around the blazing building.

They feared an explosion, which had demolished one wall of the workshop when an oxygen cylinder exploded, would be followed by another if an acetylene container burst due to the intense heat.

Firefighters planned to play a jet of water on it for 24 hours to keep it cool and New Road was kept closed until early Tuesday evening. Miraculously no one was seriously hurt.

Catshill couple Dave Hadley, aged 28, and his wife Kath, the joint owners of the business, which they only started in January, could only look on in anguish as firefighters from Bromsgrove, Northfield, and Kidderminster, with the aid of several emergency back-up vehicles, fought to bring the blaze under control.

Dave, who had previously worked for Regal Garage for 11 years, and Wychbold Garage, said: "Setting up our own business was a dream come true." Kath added the business was a great success and was working at full capacity with five employees.

One, Dave's father, Geoff, from Brueton Avenue, lost his Rover which had been parked at the rear in the premises.

More than 20 others belonging to customers were destroyed. Details of ownership and the keys were destroyed in the flames.

Apprentice Michael Jones from Rock Hill had only started with the company that morning.

Dave said the blaze was caused by petrol leaking from a car which was being repaired on a ramp.

Staff used fire extinguishers, but to no avail. Dave, who suffered burns to his hands and arms, said: "It took just 30 seconds for flames to engulf the car." Undaunted he added he hopes to start the business up again.

The operation was under the control of divisional officer Richard Lawrence based at Bromsgrove Fire Station.