A former sheltered housing complex was demolished yesterday after an arson attack destroyed the empty building in Shipley.

The fire, which was started on Thursday night, was the second arson attack in the area in the space of a few days.

The building, right, in the Windhill estate, was already due for demolition - as was the old Artisan Windows building, half a mile away, which suffered severe fire damage on Bank Holiday Monday.

Both fires are being treated as arson by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

This latest incident occurred at around 7pm on Thursday evening.

Firefighters from Rawdon, Bradford and Shipley were called to the scene, but they could not stop the building's roof being gutted in the blaze.

The structure of the building was seriously weakened and it was decided it should be demolished immediately.

A spokesman for Shipley Fire Station confirmed the second fire was being treated as arson and would not rule out a link between the previous incident, which saw fire crews from as far afield as Leeds attending the scene.

The building was gutted as the fire engulfed the roof and upper floor of the premises.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We can confirm we attended a fire at Carnegie Drive, Windhill, Shipley on May 28.

"The time of call was 2.58am. The fire was in a three storey derelict building.

"Appliances were also mobilised to Saville Court, Leeds Road, Shipley on May 31. The time of call was 7.03pm. The fire was in a single storey derelict building under demolition.

"Both incidents are being treated as deliberate ignition and are still under investigation."

John Brownbridge, manager of the Bradford Arson Taskforce, said: "Eighty per cent of all fires in the Bradford district are started deliberately.

"We investigate each incident and treat them all seriously."

e-mail: paddy.mcguffin @bradford.newsquest.co.uk