Three brigades attended and had to fetch water from Rushden in tenders because the tower is not yet in service.

Even if the tower had been in commission the pumps would have been put out of action because the fire burned down some electric transmission lines.

Only living occupant of the garage was “Rex,” a young Alsatian dog, installed as a guard after two robberies last year.

He was rescued by a Rushden ex-soldier who was awarded the B.E.M. during the war and who fought his way through smoke and flames into the blazing building.

A few seconds after, as the wind reached the fire through the gaping garage doors he had had to open bystanders had to run for their lives.

The heat generated by the fire was so great that the plastic tops of nearby petrol pumps were melted and distorted.

The group of buildings known as “Hanson’s Garage” stands at the side of the Bedford Road over the border in Beds.

At about 9.30, Miss Florence E. Smith who lives in a bungalow opposite and is employed at the garage as a clerk saw the flames through the windows.

Immediately she rushed across the road into the small office and phoned for the fire brigade.

Early on the scene was her neighbour, Mr. Reg. Lovell, who is employed as a foreman in the makers department of Tecnic Children’s Shoes Ltd and who was awarded the B.E.M. while serving as a Corporal in the R.A.O.C.

She told him that somewhere in the main building where she had seen the flames was Rex, the guard dog.

Mr. Lovell opened the main doors and found a yard wide gap between one of the blazing lorries and the wall.

He dashed down the narrow fiery passage way within inches of full petrol tanks and brought out the animal.

“It was a highly commendable action,” Miss Smith told a reporter. “The lorry was in flames and he went in and got the dog out. As he got out of the doors the flames belched up and we had to run. Rex was snuffling at the nose: We just got him out in time.”

The saving of his dog was the only thing that cheered Mr. C. F. Perkins, manager of the garage and joint partner with his brother, Mr. H. E. Perkins, as he surveyed the wreckage on Tuesday.

The main wooden building, about 60 feet by 30 feet, was a blackened shell.

Only the low brick foundations and concrete floor showed its original size. Four twisted girders which had held the roof remained and the rear wall, which had been lined with asbestos, resembled a charred web.

The two five-ton lorries, one loaded with granite chips, were completely burned out and the remains of a 500 c.c. Matchless Clubman motorcycle belonging to the fitter E. Prigmore, stood by.

Several parts had completely melted.

A lean-to shed in which tyres were stored had also disappeared and flames had eaten their way through the small charging shed and ruined the equipment.

Another lorry which had been standing outside the door had had its colour changed from green to black.

Practically undamaged was the small shed in which spare parts were stored, though its blistered green walls told a tale of intense heat.

A pile of wooden blocks in the yard had only started to smoulder.

So great was the heat, however, when the fire was at its height, that the tops of petrol pumps in the open about 15 yards from the door had melted and taken distorted shapes.

The four appliances which eventually made up the force under Station Officer A. P. Timpson, of Rushden, were from Rushden, Wellingborough and Kettering.

The flames were put out just after 1 a.m.

Chief Officer Heptinstall and Deputy Chief Officer Stanton, of Kettering also attended.