THOUSANDS of pounds in damage was caused when a car was burnt out and a demountable building gutted in a suspected arson attack on a family-run business near Pontypool.

Residents who live near the One Stop Garage in Bakery Row, Talywain were in bed when they heard several loud bangs and rushed outside to see ten foot-high flames and thick smoke billowing into the sky..

One resident said: "I heard a crackling noise and a loud explosion and saw my neighbours outside."

Nearby residents were not evacuated but kept their windows closed during the night.

Khalid Fareed, 26, who works at the business run by his father-in-law, Nawaz Khan said a computer and cash were stolen from the office and their Toyota 4x4 destroyed .

A fire crew from Abersychan was called to the garage just before 1am and the blaze took an hour to put out. Gwent Police are treating the fire as suspicious. Anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.