A MECHANIC has told how he ran back into his burning workshop ten times to rescue expensive motorbikes as his business went up in flames.

The blaze started at about 6.40pm on Tuesday at RB Bikes, in Moulton, near Scotch Corner.

The fire started when petrol leaked from a Honda Goldwing and ignited while business owner Reg Baister was trying to start the machine.

Mr Baister, 47, of Moulton, was taken to the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, suffering from smoke inhalation after he tried to save stock from the building, where he runs a motorbike repair and sales business.

He said: "It took me three-and-a-half years to get the business up and running and it has all gone in a few seconds. It is very hard to believe.

"After the fire started, I ran back in about ten times. It sounds stupid, but I just thought I had to save customers' bikes."

The roof of the workshop collapsed in the fire.

Although Mr Baister managed to save a number of machines, the Honda Goldwing, four motorbikes, two quad bikes, a moped, tools and a computer were destroyed in the incident.

Mr Baister built the workshop himself and has vowed to restart his business, which he partly ran through Internet auction site E-bay.

He said: "I have not much left, but at least I am okay and the house next door is okay.

"I have to get everything sorted out with the insurance company and keep trading. What else can I do?"

Susan and Peter Staincliffe live in a house next door to the workshop.

They were at home when the blaze started. One window and cables on the end of the house were slightly damaged in the incident.

Mrs Staincliffe, 55, said: "The fire brigade said if they had arrived five minutes later, our house could have gone up."