A FIRE at a Valleys fire depot caused more than £100,000 of damage.

The fire broke out at Rees Coach Travel, Waenllapria, Llanelly Hill, Brynmawr, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

It completely destroyed the depot building, which now has to be demolished and rebuilt, after the heat damaged the building's metal framework.

Two coaches being kept in the building overnight were also completely burnt out, as well as all the company's maintenance tools and equipment.

Fire officers were at the site for more than 24 hours, as they had to ensure acetylene cylinders in the depot were cooled, to avoid the risk of explosion.

Now Neville Rees, 75, from Waenllapria, who owns the 85-year-old family business, says the insurance claim is likely to exceed £100,000.

Gwent Police are not treating the fire as suspcious, but the cause of the blaze has not yet been identified.

Mr Rees told the Argus: "It has been a very traumatic time."

The fire came just a week after theives broke into the depot and stole a bike and a steam washer.

Mr Rees said there had also been incidents where diesel was stolen from vehicles at the site.

He also said that around eight months ago someone had also stolen a minibus from the site and pushed it over the edge of a quarry and torched it.

But he said business is continuing as usual for the company, with the remaining nine vehicles in their fleet and he urged customers to keep using the business through this difficult time.

He added: "On behalf of my wife Margo, my son Nigel and my daughter-in-law Claire, I want to thank all those who have offered their support."