TWO self-employed businessmen say they have been inundated with offers of help after The Press told how their firms had been destroyed in an arson attack.

The fire was started in the early hours of Sunday morning at the Barfield Industrial Estate off New Lane on the outskirts of York.

A lawn mower repair shop and a paving manufacturing unit were completely gutted and all the machinery and tools destroyed.

Martin Shepherd, owner of Lawn Mower Services, initially said he would have to get a job because everything he had worked for had been destroyed and he could not face trying to set up again.

But since the story appeared in The Press on Monday, he has been inundated with calls from customers and friends with offers of tools, equipment and work spaces. He now wants to thank every one for their support.

He said: "Things have changed and hopefully I can get my business up and running again.

"On Monday the phone did not stop ringing from eight in the morning until eight at night with customers offering me places to work, offering me tools and offering support. I'm just overwhelmed with the amount of customers and neighbours and friends who have phoned and offered help and hopefully I'm going to get sorted out and get my business running again in the not-too-distant future with a bit of luck."

Simon Gordon, of Gordonstone Paving Products has experienced the same level of support. He lost the manufacturing side of the business but does have Ace of Spades garden landscaping and is still able to lay patios and driveways.

Simon, who has been in business on the site for the last 12 years and is a former boxer, said he has had messages of support from as far away as New Zealand and Germany from ex-army colleagues plus the local sporting and business communities.

He said: "It's been great, it really has been great.

"There's been a tremendous amount of support, it's been overwhelming.

"One guy yesterday morning came up from Kent to see me. I served with him in Northern Ireland and he came up to ask if I needed any help."

Anyone who has any information regarding the arson attack should contact North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060247.