AN arson victim who watched his business of 35 years burn to the ground has reopened just months after the blaze.

John Allen has ploughed more than £20,000 of his own money, which he had saved for his retirement, into the new venture while he awaits an insurance payout.

The blaze struck Allen's Coach-painters in November last year, gutting the company's two-storey base at the Oakenshaw Trading Estate, in Lower Barnes Street, Clayton-le-Moors.

The 66-year-old had been planning to retire next year, but said he couldn't bear to see his life's work "go to waste".

Now, after finding new premises in Devron Mill, off Meadow Street, in Great Harwood, his vehicle painters and repairs company is up and running again.

Mr Allen said: "You would not believe the number of people who have approached me in the street to tell me how sad they were to hear what happened with the fire."

He said he had been left "heartbroken" after the blaze, which came just hours after attending the funeral of his brother David, 59, who died after a year-long battle with lung cancer.

Mr Allen, who lives in Spring Hill, Clayton, with his wife, Sheila, 62, added: "I have been looking to start up again ever since the fire.

"It has been my life and I'm delighted to be back in business again.

"It has been a bad few months. It is difficult to accept that I can't work at my old building any more every morning since the fire I've had to stop myself getting in the car and driving there, but I can put that behind me now. I just want the police to catch whoever is responsible for the fire."

Police are still investigating the blaze, which is being treated as suspicious.

It is thought to have started late at night in the basement of the property.

Eight vehicles, three of which belonged to customers, were among property wrecked during the blaze, along with thousands of pounds worth of equipment.