ARSONISTS have destroyed a garage in Toothill.

Thousands of pounds worth of property, including a three-piece suite, garden furniture, a lawn mower, power tools and pictures, went up in flames.

But mum-of-one Gabrielle Kayser-Dicker, of Beverley, said that the most upsetting part of yesterday's fire was the boxes of memories that had been reduced to ashes, such as paintings by her 11-year-old daughter when she was a toddler.

"The garage needs to be knocked down now," said Ms Kayser-Dicker.

"The roof has caved in and the doors have gone.

"I was at work when it happened. I came home and by neighbours told me about it.

"At the end of the day, if it had been my house, I would have had a different view but it wasn't attached to my house and it didn't cause any damage to anyone.

"It could have been a lot worse. It is only possessions.

"It is the inconvenience more than anything.

"There were paintings my daughter did at nursery which have gone now.

"That's hurt me more than the other stuff, that was quite distressing."

The garage is in a detached block of eight, which is Ms Kayser-Dicker said was regularly targeted by vandals.

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service received numerous calls about the incident, which happened at about 12.30pm.

Three fire crews - from Swindon, Westlea and Stratton - attended.

They were on the scene within in five minutes and tackled the blaze using a hose reel and two breathing apparatus.

The fire, which was dealt with within an hour, was contained in the one garage.

Its cause is being investigated.