A GROUP of Torfaen residents have praised a businessman for his help in removing a burnt-out car from a local beauty spot.

The residents feared that the car, which had been dumped next to Cwmlickey Pond, would contaminate the water.

The group contacted Pontypool-based building contractor Adrian Waters for help removing the car before it slipped in to the pond.

Alan and David Williams, from AP Waters Building Contractors arrived at the site with heavy machinery and a flatbed lorry to remove the car.

Local resident Gareth Herbert said: “It would have contaminated the water.

“I didn’t want to see it spoiled, so I messaged Adrian asking him, a bit tongue-in-cheek, whether he could help us out.

“Adrian is my cousin, and we used to play in the area as our grandparents had a bungalow nearby.

“He said he would see what he could do.

“It took the best part of a day for the two men.

“This local businessman, out of the goodness of his heart, has gone out of his way to stop this environmental catastrophe.

“He didn’t have to do it and without him we wouldn’t have been able to do it.”

Torfaen Litter Champion Ron Ford added: “Torfaen Litter Champions were very grateful for Adrian Waters’ help and generosity in supplying labour and all the equipment to avert a contamination of the Cwmlickey Lido.”