A businessman described today how he tried to save the life of a father of two who had been attacked and tied up in his burning business premises.

Allan Styles was able to rescue three men from smoke-filled office but he said Kingsley Monk was already dead.

Mr Styles made the "gruesome’’ discovery on Monday when he noticed smoke billowing into his premises on an industrial estate in New Inn, near Pontypool, South Wales.

He went next door to Driverline 247 and found 45-year-old Mr Monk, the boss of the driver recruitment agency, tied up with three other men.

Mr Styles managed to extinguish the fire and free the other men, but said there was nothing he could do for Mr Monk, from Oakdale.

"I was working and we saw the smoke,” said Mr Styles.

"It was billowing in. One of them then came running into my place with his hands tied.

"I then ran into the unit next door. I could see the fire was really bad so I ran back into my place to get a fire extinguisher.

"Kingsley's body was on the landing so I stepped over that to extinguish the fire.’’ Although the fire was quite big, it went out quickly.

He said: "Kingsley was already dead. He was gone and tied up and God knows what.

"I don't want to say too much. I tried to resuscitate him but he had been dead too long.

"They (the three other men) had all been tied up. I had to cut the men free because they had been tied with cable ties and they were quite tight.

"One of the men was just in shock, jumping around, and one of the others was face down with his hands behind his back. There was blood everywhere.’’ Mr Styles has now returned to work at his business, Gwent Auto Factors, but said it will take some time to get over what he saw.

"It has been a bit too much over the last few days,’’ said Mr Styles.

"I won't forget what I saw for a bit. It was pretty gruesome.’’ Gwent Police were continuing to question a 52-year-man today on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and false imprisonment.

Police made their arrest after raiding an address in Penrhos Crescent, Rumney, Cardiff, on Monday evening.

Despite finding the property empty, they made an arrest within hours at Newport train station.

Police have already said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the suspected murder.

They also revealed last night that Mr Monk had been "restrained’’ for several hours before his death, as had the three other victims at the unit.

All three injured men have now been released from hospital.

Police continue to search for a handgun which it is believed was discarded somewhere along the A4042.

Details of the violence at New Inn has left the area's business community in shock.

Businessman John Turner, who runs the community's Family Learning Centre and first heard of the death from an employee, said: "I am just stunned by it all, to be honest.

"The person who told me could only express their horror at what had happened.

"I had heard the helicopter going over and was wondering what had happened, but when you read and hear some of the details, it's absolutely dreadful.

"I know people in a nearby unit smelled smoke and helped put out the fire. But what they found was almost like a massacre situation.’’ He added: "The feeling here today is still one of shock, horror and surprise that this can have happened.

"It is the violence of it, with the petrol sprayed around, and when somebody has a gun on you it must be particularly horrific.’’