MORE than 40 firefighters battled a blaze at a classic car garage near Ringwood on Monday afternoon.

The fire, which broke out at 11.52am, is believed to have taken place at SGA Motors at Forest Corner Farm in Hangersley Hill Road.

One man in his sixties was taken to Salisbury District Hospital for treatment for burns.

Five appliances from Ringwood, Burley, Fordingbridge and Ferndown attended the incident, with a water carrier from Fordingbridge, a special equipment unit from St Mary’s in Southampton and a multi-role vehicle from Eastleigh also called along with relief crews.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Fire and Rescue said 40 per cent of the building, which is used as three separate workshops, was damaged by fire.

Station manager Steve Ransley said: “Firefighters worked very hard to stop it spreading to two other workshops and separate buildings on the small industrial-type estate and had it not been for their sterling efforts this would have been a much more serious incident.

“This type of site can be challenging for crews as a number of different types of businesses can co-exist.

“Our rural safety officer also mobilised to the site to give information and advice to the neighbouring business of the affected building.”

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire is under way.