Fundraiser launched for Leeds dad who lost 30-year tool collection in devastating Garforth fire

A fundraiser has been launched for a Leeds dad who has lost thousands of pounds of gardening equipment in a devastating shed fire.

Nigel Watson, 61, was working on a classic motorbike at his home in Garforth on Thursday afternoon when it caught fire.

The blaze quickly ripped through the garden shed and pictures show the garden engulfed in flames before firefighters arrived at the scene.

Nigel, a council worker, suffered minor burns to his hand but has since recovered.

Nigel Watson, 61, lost a 30-year tool collection in the devastating fireplaceholder image
Nigel Watson, 61, lost a 30-year tool collection in the devastating fire

His family say he is devastated after losing thousands of pounds of gardening equipment and the motorbike and they have launched a GoFundMe appeal to replace the tools.

Nigel's son Matthew Watson, 31, said: "It all happened so fast, I tried to save it.

"Over 30 years collecting and all his gardening equipment and the motorbike is gone. He lost every power tool and every tool you could think of.

"He used to love going gardening which he can’t now do. The worst of it all he wasn’t insured on everything gone up in flames.

The shell of the shed in the aftermath of the fireplaceholder image
The shell of the shed in the aftermath of the fire

"He's devastated, we all are to be honest.

"I would like to raise some money so he can replace some tools and get him gardening again."

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