A WIRRAL engineer has spoken of his devastation after vandals burned his boat repair shed to the ground.

Fighting back tears while trying to salvage equipment from the charred wreckage in Carham Road, Hoylake that was his workshop’s premises, Alan Tolley told the Globe this morning: "The business took 40 years to build and half-an-hour to burn down.

"I just can't believe what’s happened."

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Alan Tolley surveys the damage in his boat shed today. Pictures: Craig Manning

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The 71-year-old continued: "Everything has been destroyed, including welding gear, woodwork making equipment.

"It's nothing that can repaired easily or quickly."

Firecrews were called to the single-storey brick and wood built shed, situated at the end of a lane near Hoylake Rugby Club on Wednesday night following reports of a blaze.

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It was well alight by the time they arrived.

A number of birds, including swallows and a robin, perished as flames took hold of nearby trees.

An investigation is underway to establish the cause of the blaze.

Alan was second coxswain at Hoylake Lifeboat Station until his retirement 18 years ago and served his time as a boatbuilder at the long-gone Bond’s in Rock Ferry.

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On the events of Wednesday, he said: “I didn’t know anything about it until a friend knocked on the door, telling me the shed was on fire.

“I could see the smoke from my house off Lake Place and apparently it could be seen from the Pier Head in Liverpool.

“It’s the first time anything like this happened in the 40 years I’ve been here.

“There was a comment on a Facebook which said ‘Look what we’ve done; we’ve set fire to Hoylake.

“I’d like whoever did this to go through the same thing and suffer the loss I have.”

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According to Mr Tolley, two teenagers with a petrol can were seen walking along the path leading up to the shed around an hour before the fire.

Praising the emergency services, Mr Tolley continued: “They did all they could to try and save the building, but it was to no avail.

"I want to thank community for its support.

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“I’ve had an offer for the use of a shed for a year, from a bloke who's going to Australia for a year. “Not sure about that, will have a think about it.

“At 71, I may retire, it's a hobby more than a job and I loved working at the shed. We’ll see what happens.”

His daughter, Elaine Farrell, told the Globe: "Everyone in Hoylake, not just the family, are devastated by what's happened.

"Dad was born and bred in Hoylake; a born tradesman, which is a dying breed these days. He made his first dinghy when he was 14, it's been his life.

"It was just so sad to see him on Wednesday, standing there with his hands in his pockets watching as the business he built up over 40 years was burned to the ground.

"We've had so much support from people on Facebook, showing messages of support.

"The worst thing about that is that the people who did this are reading the messages and having a good laugh about it.

"I hope they are caught."

If anyone has any information regarding this incident they should call police on 101.

FUND LAUNCHED:

A fund has been set up to help Mr Tolley rebuild his workshop and buy him some of the woodworking tools which were destroyed in the arson attack.

Island Electrical in Market Street has set up a special account and are asking readers in the area to drop in and contribute "a couple of quid into the pot to get him back up and running with a set of gear ASAP."