Roy Richards is determined to rebuild his museum

Most of Roy Richards' National Motorcycle Museum, near Solihull, was destroyed by a fire caused by a discarded cigarette.

Only about 250 of the 900 bikes at the Bickenhill attraction were saved after last Wednesday's fire.

Mr Richards said he has been inundated with messages of support from all over the world since the fire, which destroyed motorcycles worth �8m.

Many of the 650 bikes destroyed cannot be replaced

He added he was confident that the museum would soon be running again.

"We shall achieve it. In 70 weeks from now it will be totally rebuilt and we shall be open in full swing."

Mr Richards started the museum in an effort to set up a permanent reminder of the days when the UK had a thriving motorcycle industry.

A builder by trade with a crane hire company, Mr Richards supplied the labour for the attraction, which opened in 1984.

He also developed conference facilities to pay for the bikes, some of which cost as much as �100,000.