An animal lover from St Albans said his life’s work has been ruined, after a horse box containing animals was set alight during a spate of fires.

Geoffrey Parker, 54, used to run an animal rescue centre from his council house in Keswick Close.

He had 142 rabbits and guinea pigs in a trailer in his garden - all of which he had to release when someone started a fire in the trailer in 2013.

Mr Parker lives with his wife Christine, and during the past 19 months there they say there have been six fires in their garden, one of which firefighters said was close to spreading to the house.

In the most recent incident last month, three snakes and five spiders were killed in their beds in the horsebox parked in the drive - the day before Mr Parker was due to launch a charity at Samuel Ryder Academy’s school fete.

Mr Parker said: "This latest fire has literally destroyed everything.

"I packed the horsebox on Friday night, ready for the fete on Saturday morning, only to discover it burnt out a few hours later.

"The moment I realised we had been targeted again my heart sunk. We were so happy and have had it feels like my heart has been ripped out. Why is this happening to us?

"I was hours away from launching my charity - Captain Geoff’s Animal Encounters. I have put more than £4,000 into the project, and now have to start right from the beginning. I will not give up though."

Mr Parker said the charity was aimed at children to give them somewhere to go and learn lessons they are not taught at school.

In another incident last year, Mr Parker had his marquee burnt down the night before he was due to take the animals and show them to cubs in Watford.

Mr Parker currently has around 50 animals, including two iguanas, Isabelle and Napoleon, a nine and a half foot boa constrictor called Bertha, a black and white Argentine tegu called Hercules, a pair of chinchillas, Ted and BJ, four cats, Shelby, Little Dos, Panther and Sock, a Staffordshire bull terrier called Scrapper and the rabbits.

They are currently housed at land donated after Mr Parker’s appeal appeared in the Review.

Mr Parker, who has not been able to work for 14 years due to various health issues, takes his animals into schools - including Samuel Ryder - and to cub and scout groups for free.

He added: "We will pick up the pieces but it will take months.

"We want to know who is doing this and why. We are trying to good."

The last fire took place on Saturday, May 10 at around 3.40am, and was discovered by a passer-by on her way home from a bar in the city centre.

Hertfordshire Constabulary said they were investigating the incident and anyone with information should call them.