FIRST Bradford has said it is studying CCTV after officers confirmed a blaze on one of its buses was being treated as suspicious.

The bus was situated at Broadway in Bradford city centre during a changeover on October 9 when the fire broke out.

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

The crews managed to extinguish the blaze by around 3.45pm but the road remained closed as the badly damaged bus was recovered and debris was cleared.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Scenes of the bus fire in Bradford city centre earlier this month

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

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

Yesterday, the Telegraph & Argus reported that a West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) investigation into the cause of the blaze had now been completed.

This revealed it was believed to be suspicious.

West Yorkshire Police subsequently confirmed it had launched an investigation into the incident.

Today, a spokesperson for First told the T&A: "We are working closely with the fire service and police to assist investigations into the cause of this incident.

"This includes the use of on-board CCTV footage to help determine events leading up to start of the fire."

The First spokesperson 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."

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said yesterday: "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."

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.

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.