A RENOWNED surfboard designer from the Isle of Wight has lost his livelihood in a devastating fire.

Roger Cooper grew up on the Island and worked as an agricultural apprentice before first spying surfboards on postcards from neighbouring Cornwall.

With only the postcard image to go off, an intrigued Roger got to work designing his own board, using polystyrene and sealing them with cascamite and then resin – it was the 60s and Roger's life's work had just begun.

Fast forward some 50 years and Roger Cooper Surfboards are designed and created at his own factory in Port Talbot, Wales.

Sadly, after 30 years, a blaze tore through the structure on January 6, destroying stock, materials and irreplaceable tools accumulated over a lifetime of passionate surfboard design.

Now, a crowdfunding page has been set up by friends of the designer to help him rebuild the factory. It has raised £2,255 of its £5,000 goal in under 10 days.

The page reads: "[This] wasn't just a building where surfboards were made, it was a building where Roger loved to spend long days working, dreaming up new ideas, forging friendships, mentoring future craftsmen, spending time with his family, drinking lots of coffee and everyone was welcome."

Roger is one of few British craftsmen to have shaped over 10,000 boards himself and built his factory close to his favourite surf break, Aberavon.

Roger told the County Press: "It's arson I'm afraid. It's totally gutted. Internally there's been walls that have been so warped with the heat. We've had to demolish some walls, the roof has to be replaced and the wiring and piping will all have to be re-done."

You can donate to help Roger get back on his feet here: crowdfunder.co.uk/help-roger-cooper-surfboards-from-the-ashes