Classic cars worth thousands of pounds have been destroyed in a fire at a north-east farm.
Dozens of firefighters were called to Courtiestown Farmhouse, near Clatt, Huntly, late on Tuesday after a major blaze broke out in an outbuilding.
A neighbour raised the alarm after hearing loud banging outside at about 11pm.
Huge flames spread through the building, and the four crews worked for hours to keep it away from nearby properties and gas canisters.
Thick smoke could still be seen billowing into the sky yesterday morning.
The owner of the property, named locally as Richard Lines, is well known for restoring old classic cars.
Neighbour Mathew Hick raised the alarm, and praised the fire service for their quick response as well as the locals who came to help.
He said: “We woke up to some funny noises going on outside, and usually when that happens it’s a badger or a fox, but it was obvious that there was something really serious going on.
“I went outside and heard some popping and crackling, it really wasn’t like anything I had ever heard. Then I went round the corner and saw the barn next door to me was just completely ablaze.
“We’ve got two big gas cylinders so my main priority was keeping the fire away from my property, because if it got to them it would just tear through my home – but the fire brigade did good work keeping it from spreading too much.
“Then there was one absolutely massive bang that blew the doors off the barn, it must have been something big that went off – and after that the fire just got carried away and ripped through the garages, it was a really intense fire.
“The fire brigade were absolutely great, they did a brilliant job making sure everyone was safe.”
The burnt-out shell of the barn was taped off yesterday, with the ruined wreckage of the cars visible.
Mr Hick added: “He (Mr Lines) was really big on his restorations. He had some beautiful old Land Rovers and other classic cars he was restoring, but unfortunately there’s not much left of them.
“It’s a horrible situation for this poor guy and his family.”
Mr Lines and his wife, Kate, could not be contacted last night.
