It has taken Nils Hughes nearly four years to force two maintenance companies into admitting partial liability for the gas explosion which ripped through the Kings Arms, in Monkton Farleigh, in October 2000.

An out-of-court settlement with Ken Wheeler Catering Equipment Ltd and Ken Wheeler Catering Equipment (Services) Ltd, means the 34-year-old can finally pay off his creditors and draw a line under four years of hell.

Both companies, who carried out repairs to a grill just days before the explosion, refused to accept liability following the blast, and went into liquidation.

Mr Hughes lost his business and home after the company director refused to pay damages, forcing him to run up crippling bills.

Four years on the liquidators have agreed to pay £40,000 to Mr Hughes, who can finally wipe out his debts.

Mr Hughes said: "It is a massive relief. Firstly it has been a crusade to get to the truth and a crusade to finally make Ken Wheeler admit liability.

"It has taken three to four years of extensive legal costs to get this far. Although it is partly over, for which I am delighted, in real terms it will take years to put things completely right."

Within six months of taking over the pub Mr Hughes had collected a clutch of awards and was well on course to achieve his dream of a Michelin star during his first year of trading, but the explosion left his ambition in tatters.

"The whole lot was taken out of my hands because Ken Wheeler sent someone not qualified to install the equipment," he said.

"I lost my house, my business, the £180,000 I invested. It has been a wasted three to four years of my life. It makes you take stock of things.

"My creditors are my personal friends so I wanted to pay something back. People have been extremely supportive.

"Food and wine is my life so I am lucky to be in the job I am in now. Hopefully one day I will come back to a Wiltshire pub and try again."

Mr Hughes is now working as a national account and military sales director for US plastics firm Cambro Manufacturing.

He is due to be discharged from bankruptcy in August.