A devastated garage owner is picking up the pieces after his business was destroyed by a blaze at the premises.  

A staff member alerted Gareth Nuttall to the fire at CPP Motor Developments on the A50 in Smallwood as he was about to open for work on Friday morning (August 9th). 

The devastated mechanic and businessman told Nub News it's the first time in more than three decades that he woke up over the weekend "without a job". 

"I've lost everything," said Mr Nuttall. "I've spent nearly 37 years building up this business, the past 27 years here in Smallwood and before that around nine years in Congleton. 

The building in Smallwood is still cordoned off following Friday's fire. (Photo: Nub News)

"Everything has gone. All my equipment and tools and there were five customer cars inside which I was working on. I am devastated." 

Mr Nuthall, who did not want to be photographed, said the fire, next to a dry grass verge, took hold of the wooden fencing at his business in Four Lane Ends, Church Lane, before spreading to the building. 

"The wind didn't help as this helped it to spread. It then cut out the power supply and several businesses were without power for a while," he said.  

"I just couldn't believe it. The fire just took hold and blew out a power unit. There were flames on the roof and everywhere." 

Mr Nuttall's business has been based in Smallwood for 27 years. Prior to that, it was based at Daneside in Congleton. 

Nub News told here  how police closed the road. Several fire engines went to the scene at 9.41 am on Friday morning, including an aerial ladder from Lymm fire station and another fire engine from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service.  

Firefighters used a thermal imaging camera to check for hot spots and dampen down and were at the scene for most of the day, leaving around 4.30 pm. 

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