A COLLECTOR watched helplessly as his model aircrafts worth several thousands of pounds went up in smoke when a garage caught fire.

About 15 aeroplanes and three helicopters, which had been collected over a period of 16 years, caught fire when a garage attached to a house in Gannet Close, Kempshott, was badly damaged in the blaze.

Camping equipment, mountain bikes, a fridge freezer and a tumble dryer were also ruined as the flames ripped through the garage last on Friday, November 3.

Brian Standing, 42, a post-design engineer who has been collecting rare model aircraft for years, said: "All my interests have gone up in smoke. I'm devastated."

Mr Standing discovered the fire when he got home from work and quickly called the fire brigade.

His wife Lorna, 42, who was also away when the fire started, said: "When I got back, I could smell something in the air, but I thought it was a bonfire.

"Then I saw smoke coming out of the garage. It was lucky that my husband came back in time."

Firefighters were called to the scene at 6.30pm and it took them nearly three-and-a-half hours to get the fire under control.

Specialist equipment and two pumps had to be used.

As several cylinders containing fuels used to light a barbecue were in the garage, the area was sealed off and neighbours were told to stay indoors while the fire was dealt with.

Crew manager Kevin Robson, who attended the scene, said a faulty battery charger was the cause of the fire.