OXFORDSHIRE County Council is fighting a legal battle to claim £12,000 from the owners of a garage destroyed in an explosion, it was revealed last night.

Legal documents obtained by the Oxford Mail show the council is billing Leda Properties, which trades as Sutton Courtenay Tyres, £11,438 for emergency call-out charges, £225 court fees, £100 solicitors’ costs and at least £333 in interest following the fire in January 2008.

Council spokesman Marcus Mabberley refused to comment on why the legal action was being taken or how much money was being sought when the case came to light last month.

About 100 people were evacuated from their homes in Sutton Courtenay after gas cylinders exploded.

Nick Hardcastle, in a written defence submitted to Oxford County Court on behalf of Sutton Courtenay Tyres, said: “The fire service confirmed that the origin of the fire was accidental and probably electrically related.

“Sutton Courtenay Tyres does not believe it should be responsible for the costs and charges levied by Oxfordshire County Council as a result of the fire not being a deliberate or negligent act.”

He added he was unclear what legislation the council was using for the charges and added the claim had been served against the wrong firm because Sutton Courtenay Tyres was a partnership and not a trading arm of Leda Properties.

A hearing took place at the court last month. The case is due to be heard there again on a date yet to be set.