A MOTORBIKE enthusiast from Swindon was burned on his face and arms after his garage erupted into flames.

Ron Jennings, 71, of Vicarage Road, Cheney Manor, was injured when five of his vintage bikes caught fire at about 11am on Saturday.

Neighbours dialled 999 after hearing loud bangs and seeing Ron’s garage go up in smoke.

Retired builder Ron, who worked on the Golden Lion statue in Swindon town centre, was taken to the Great Western Hospital for a check-up by doctors, firefighters said.

His grandson Kenny Bainbridge, 24, of Albion Street, said: “The bikes are his life. He pretty much buys them in bits in a cardboard box, gets the V5 document with it and builds them up.

“He had classics like Nortons and Triumphs and he’s won loads of cups and rosettes by showing them off all over the country.”

Ron’s son-in-law Andy Bainbridge, 46, from Oxford, said: “The bikes are his pride and joy. It’s his passion.”

Firefighters from Westlea and Stratton put out the blaze within a few minutes using foam.

They also used a thermal imaging camera attached to an aerial appliance which hovered over the garage’s roof to make sure there were no hotspots that could reignite.

The fire crews spent three hours at the semi-detached property to ensure it was safe.

Drove Road fire station manager Gareth Evans described Ron’s injuries as “superficial burns”.

He said: “I could see the black smoke from as far away as Blagrove, near junction 16 of the M4.

“Five motorcycles were destroyed and two cars had moderate damage.

“We are still investigating the cause of the fire but we believe it to be accidental.

“A lot of the loud bangs were aerosol cans and tyres exploding.”

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “It sounded like shotgun was being fired. I heard seven bangs.”

Another neighbour added: “Ron is always tinkering about with bikes in his garage.”