A MAJOR fire on a bus in Bradford city centre is being treated as suspicious by police, the Telegraph & Argus has learned.

The First bus blaze in Broadway sent plumes of thick black smoke billowing into the air two weeks ago, on October 9.

Fire crews from Bradford and Shipley were called to the scene shortly after 3pm.

There were no passengers on board and no injuries were reported.

The bus driver was alerted to the fire by a queuing passenger who saw smoke coming from a window on the top deck. 

A West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) investigation into the cause of the blaze has now been completed.

A WYFRS spokesperson told the T&A: "The fire is believed to be suspicious.

"West Yorkshire Police is now leading on this incident."

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "Police can now confirm a fire on a bus in Broadway, Bradford, on October 9 is being treated as suspicious. 

"Bradford CID is carrying out an investigation into the fire.   

"Officers would like to appeal to anyone who was on the bus at the time of the incident, which was around 3.09pm, to come forward. 

"Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101 or use the live chat facility, quoting crime reference 13230561890.

"Information can always be given anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Last week, the force told the T&A that the fire was not being treated as suspicious - but this was before the WYFRS investigation had been completed. 

A spokesperson for First Bradford said following the blaze: "One of our buses on the 607 service was involved in a fire incident on the upper deck.

"The bus was situated at Broadway during a changeover.

"There were no passengers on board and our driver acted calmly and professionally in alerting the emergency services who attended the scene and extinguished the fire."

On the day, firefighters were met with a scene described like that from a TV show, according to one woman who was working in a nearby building.