THE owner of a Bromsgrove coach firm hit by a devastating fire has pledged "we will bounce back" after £3million worth of vehicles went up in smoke.

Kevin Nind, co-owner of Kev's Cars and Coaches, was watching in disbelief last night as firefighters fought the huge inferno which engulfed 21 of its 22 buses.

He was at the site today (Saturday March 12) surveying the devastating damage.

The fire, which was believed to have been started by an electrical fault on a vehicle, destroyed the family firm's bus fleet but thankfully the building and its ten school transport coaches were saved.

Kevin, aged 59, said: "I'm devastated.

"We have put a lot of hard work into the firm, but we'll bounce back.

"All of our workforce came in this morning. I can't praise them enough, they have been brilliant.

"The firefighters did a remarkable job stopping the fire spreading to the building.

"I got a call from the landlord around 8pm last night and when I arrived it was a mass of orange flames.

"It was roaring, I just couldn't believe it.

"It almost seems worse today looking at all the damage."

Kevin said school transport will be operating as normal on Monday and it is hoped most bus routes back up and running by Tuesday - some with smaller vehicles.

Thankfully the catastrohpic loss is covered by insurance, with the insurance company due to begin a massive clear-up at the site on Monday.

Kevin said the firm's 45 staff will be unaffected and it will pay drivers their full wages.

The firm was started by Kevin's father in 1975.

Kevin thanked BNC Bromsgrove for offering to help by loaning vehicles and apologised to any customers affected.

He said: "We're a small firm and we can pull together. Our priority is to get services back.

"Thankfully no-one was hurt and no firefighters were hurt."

Bus services affected are the 147 Halesowen to Bromsgrove; 355 Droitwich to Worcester; 318 Bromsgrove to Stourbridge; 19 Maypole to Rubery; 39/39A Woodgate/Quinton to Longbridge; 38 Northfield to Selly Oak; 42 Hollymoor to West Heath.