A MAJOR arson probe is under way after a fire tore through a Ports-kewett vehicle hire centre last night, causing a possible £300,000 worth of damage.

The fire gutted the BEC vehicle hire building and Scootex scooter sales in Pill Way, on the Severn Bridge indus-trial estate, Portskewett, just before 6pm last night.

Firefighters from all over Gwent arrived in seven appliances to tackle the blaze which roared through the offices and warehouse.

The owner of the two businesses, 53-year-old Phil Chappell, was left counting the cost of the fire - said to be around £300,000.

Mr Chappell lost 40 scooters, 15 quad bikes, and two cars were damaged, with a combined value of around £50,000, and irreplaceable paperwork was lost relating to money owed from debtors.

He said that he had been awaiting a House of Lords ruling, due at the end of the month, which may have led to the settlement of some of the debts.

Mr Chappell said: "I feel sick and I'm going to have to start my business all over again." He said his business had been subjected to acts of vandalism and attempted break-ins recently.

Mr Chappell went on to say: "We've also had weird phone calls." He said last night that he was consoled by the fact that his 55- to 60-strong car, van and minibus fleet emerged almost unscathed from the inferno, and maintained it would "be back in business as usual" this morning.

Firefighters managed to prevent the fire from spreading and causing extensive damage to the Thompson & Thompson Seat car dealership, with its 250 vehicles, and Quadratec Limited, a product technology engineering company, next door.

South Wales Fire Service assistant divisional officer Martin Henderson, who led the operation, praised his men's efforts.

He said: "It was the professionalism of the crews that prevented the very real risk of the fire spreading."

A joint investigation by Gwent Police detectives and fire investigators is now in progress. Detective Sergeant Dave Edwards, from Chepstow CID, confirmed the fire was being treated as suspicious and the cause is being examined.

He said a witness had been interviewed in connection with the blaze, and urged anyone with information to contact 01291 623993.