A MAN who was restoring a car for his son is devastated after it was destroyed in a blaze which gutted his three workshops.

Steve Kemp, 49, from Hovefields Drive, Wickford, is counting the cost of the fire, which ruined the outhouses in his garden.

He estimates the cost of replacing a VW Beetle, another vehicle, a go-cart and tools could be up to £6,000, on top of the loss of the buildings.

An investigation into the cause of the blaze, which began in the early hours yesterday, is being carried out by firefighters.

Mr Kemp said: "I will await the forensics report, but I don't believe it could have caught fire on its own.

"There are electrics, but I am very particular about turning them off and there have been no other problems in nine years."

Mr Kemp was doing up the VW Beetle for his son, and he was making himself a kit car which resembles an Audi TT. The go-kart was also in the outbuildings.

His destroyed tools included chainsaws, generators and strimmers.

He said: "I am checking if the house insurance covers it, but it is all the nic-naks you collect over the years, which you can't replace."

Mr Kemp was alerted by police who spotted the flames as they drove along the A127 at about 3.40am.

Essex Police spokesman Donna Veasey said: "We have been told by firefighters the cause is unknown, and are waiting to see if it needs to be treated as suspicious."

Three fire engines were used, as well as a specialist Pinzgauer off-road vehicle, because of the terrain.

Firefighters managed to put the fire out by 4.48am.