A TREE surgeon has spoken of his devastation after the Land Rover Defender he uses for his business was torched.

The attack happened in the early hours of Wednesday on Well Heads, Keelham, near Denholme.

Victim Mick Williams released CCTV footage of the attack, shared widely on social media, which shows the suspect calmly walking up to the vehicle and setting it alight before walking away as the fire takes hold.

Mr Williams, 38, has had his business, MW Tree Services, for six years, and is puzzled as to why someone would target him.

He and his partner Kate were woken up at around 2.30am to the sound of their dog barking and firefighters knocking on the door.

“It’s just an unprovoked arson attack,” he said.

“I’ve got kids in the house - it’s so, so lucky it didn’t go any further and set fire to anything else in the house. It could have been a very, very different story.”

He added: “I’ve not done anything wrong to anybody that I know of - I try to be the nicest person I can be.”

Mr Williams said it appears the culprit took some wall topping to smash the window, before setting fire to the vehicle through the passenger side.

The attack has been made all the more heartbreaking for Mr Williams as it holds sentimental memories of his late mum, who died four years ago.

“These things are sent to test us,” he said.

“I’m gutted.”

He thinks the Land Rover will be written off and estimates it will cost around £10,000 to replace - it’s then the question of whether the insurance company will pay out that amount or not.

Despite the ordeal, a defiant Mr Williams said he will not be defeated by what has happened.

He said: “It’s not going to affect the business. If it’s an attempt to sabotage, we’ll be working again on Friday.”

After the footage was shared on Facebook, Mr Williams said he received a great deal of support from the local community - including from other tree surgeons offering help - and praised the actions of the firefighters who turned out. Sending a message to whoever is responsible, he said: “You’re not going to win.”

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: “Police are investigating an incident where a Land Rover was set on fire in Keelham at about 2.39am on Wednesday, June 5. Anyone with information which may assist is asked to contact police on 101, quoting crime reference 13190283684, or use westyorkshirepoliceuk/101livechat.

“Information can also be reported anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”