A top detective has condemned intruders who put lives at risk by tampering with gas pipes in a block of flats.

Around 15 residents were evacuated after a severe gas leak at Queensway House in Thorpe Garth, Idle, Brad-ford, early yesterday.

The alarm was raised just before 1am when a member of the public saw three young men running away from the flats block.

Police and fire crews attended and the residents were evacuated because of a strong smell of gas. They were allowed back into their homes two hours later after the scene was made safe by firefighters from Rawdon and the Transco gas company.

Detective Inspector Gerry O'Shea, of Bradford North CID, said a window had been smashed in an empty ground-floor flat and gas and water pipes had been interfered with.

A gas boiler is believed to have been stolen.

The incident happened just four days after a bungalow in Little Horton, Bradford, was destroyed in a gas blast after the attempted theft of copper piping from the property.

The piping had been tampered with and had cracked, pumping gas into the bungalow.

Det Insp O'Shea said the consequences of the incident at Idle could have been "dire" if emergency services had not been alerted so soon. He said: "As we have already seen this week, if the build-up of gas is allowed to continue there is a huge danger of an explosion and fire, and in a block of flats the consequences are multiplied because of the number of people living there.

"This was foolhardy and selfish behaviour which put the lives of other people at risk."

One of the three suspects was wearing a white cap and a hooded top.

Detectives are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact Bradford North CID on (01274) 376285, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.