Mechanic left 'broken' after losing £50,000 of tools in Uddingston garage fire

A mechanic who lost £50,000 worth of tools in a garage fire says the incident has “broken” him.

Emergency services were called to the fire on Bothwell Road in Uddingston just after 6pm on Monday.

Footage on social media showed large plumes of smoke billowing from the building, before the roof of a petrol station appeared to collapse.

Six fire engines, along with one high-reach vehicle, were sent at the height of the fire.

Firefighters worked through the night to bring the incident under control before leaving the scene around 9.30am on Tuesday.

One man was treated at the scene. There were no other reports of injuries, police said.

David Mills, who works as a mechanic at the garage, told STV News that the tools that he had collected over 15 years in the trade have been destroyed.

David Mills lost all his tools in the blaze STV News

“I’ve lost £50,000 worth of tools, snap-on tools, mach-tools”, he explained.

“Tools you literally cannot buy anymore. My tools, aren’t just tools to me, they are like antiques.

Glasgow & West

Firefighters tackle ‘well-developed’ blaze at car garage overnight

Footage on social media showed large plumes of smoke billowing from the building, before the roof of a petrol station appeared to collapse

“I look after them, they were in immaculate condition because I treat them with respect. I’ve tried all my life and literally this has happened.

“I’ve tried it all for this and it has broke me mate.”

After hearing about the blaze during his day-off, David made his way to the workshop and witnessed the workshop “go up in flames”.

Now he has been left in a state of limbo, along with his two colleagues, following the blaze.

David added: “I’ve worked here for four years.

“I literally left and came back because I loved it so much. I’m somehow going to start rebuilding my tool collection and I don’t know where to start.

“I just can’t imagine where I am going to get £50,000 worth of tools back into my life. Now I can’t do the thing that I love, what I’ve done since I was a wee boy.

“It’s hard.”

A fundraiser has set up to help support David after he lost “five toolboxes full of tools ” and his place of work.

Bothwell Road has since reopened following the incident.