A FAMILY whose garage was engulfed in flames has thanked their community for their support - despite losing thousands of pounds of personal and work possessions.

Barnaby Rogers, 19, is a welder who has worked on projects across the UK including fixing the gates at Hyde Park and window frames for the Black Country Museum, where Peaky Blinders is filmed.

Barnaby lives in Milborne St Andrew with his mother Adrienne, stepdad Larry and sister Betty, 15.

Barnaby handed in his notice at his job a few months ago to pursue setting up his own welding business.

A week before Christmas Barnaby was doing some welding work on a car in his garage when the car suddenly caught fire. Within minutes the entire garage was engulfed in flames.

Fire crews tackled the blaze for more than four hours whilst some residents were evacuated due to fears gas canisters could explode.

Dorset Echo: Barnaby said: “I was welding my friend’s car in my garage when I felt heat on my legs. I looked up and the car was completely on fire and the ceiling was full of smoke.

“I was lucky to get out while I could. By the time I noticed, it was too far gone.

“I was welding, there were no dangerous gases, we had barrels of acetylene gas but they were empty and outside the garage, the fire service just evacuated people as a precaution, they did not know they were empty.

“By the time the firefighters arrived the fire had engulfed half of the double garage.

“I can’t begin to tell you what it was like.

“I am a professional welder and I lost all of my power tools and my welding machines are all burnt out.”

READ MORE: 'Sheer panic' - Resident describes moment garage went up in flames

In the fire, Barnaby saw all of his tools which he would need to use in his business go up in flames.

The tools were worth more than £10,000 - many were passed on by his late father who died in 2022 and grandfather who died in 2010 - and held great sentimental value.

The double garage also contained personal items and belongings owned by Barnaby and his mother. They are involved in medieval re-enactment and travel around the country with costumes, replica armour and weapons.

The fire destroyed the costumes and props which the family use for their hobby.

Adrienne said: “You can’t just buy it off a shelf, a lot of it we have created ourselves over months of work.

“It was absolutely heart-breaking.

“It doesn’t just impact Barnaby’s job but his hobby too, this is our identity.”

Most of the village residents were evacuated to the town hall and pub in Milborne St Andrew. Adrienne and Barnaby were also evacuated alongside their neighbours. Adrienne said she felt nervous about joining them in the village pub.

She said: “It was a bit uncomfortable the thought of walking in and having to apologise to everybody.”

However the village’s kind response to her and her son’s plight on the day and ever since has brought Adrienne “to tears”.

One neighbour even set up a fundraising page to try and help Barnaby get back on his feet. The fundraiser has already raised more than £1,800.

Adrienne said: “They could not have been kinder.

“We apologised to everyone and thanked them for their support.

“The village we live in is amazing, I have been here 30 years, and Barnaby was born here.

“We have been overwhelmed, I have been in tears with the kindness and generosity of our neighbours.

“Barnaby has been given spare tools by locals and a neighbour asked if she could set up a crowdfunder to help Barnaby get his tools back.

“We are so humbled by the kindness we have received, a massive thank you to everyone.”

Barnaby said: “I am lost for words on the generosity of everyone. A massive thank you to everyone for their support, it means the world to me.”