A charity boss whose furniture showroom was ravaged by a fire has praised the community for rallying round.

Fire investigators have confirmed that the blaze which swept through the premises of Newlands Furniture Service, in Rockwell Lane, Thorpe Edge, was started deliberately.

Last week’s fire wiped out the larger of two portable cabins in which the organisation kept its stock of second-hand household goods.

Hundreds of donated items, including clothing, vinyl records, kitchenware and bedding, were destroyed.

The goods would have been sold on at discount prices to needy residents both in the Thorpe Edge estate and other disadvantaged communities across Bradford.

Brenda Rhodes, the service’s manager, reopened the showroom – albeit at less than half-capacity – yesterday.

She said it was only because of people’s help that she was in a position to resume operations.

She said: “The amount of calls we have had, not just from people donating, but to say how sorry they are and to give us support has been fantastic.

“I’m really grateful. We’d like to thank everyone in the community that’s supported us.

“I didn’t take his name, but last Thursday for example, an elderly man, I think he was about 74, brought down a little table and wanted to volunteer to get us back up and running. “We’ve got the electric back on in one metal container. It’s not as big as we’d like it to be at the moment, we’ve had to scale it down.”

The base is still without a water supply and customers and volunteers are having to use toilets in the neighbouring Rockwell Community Centre.

Mrs Rhodes said it was a neighbour who raised the alarm when they were awoken by the smell of burning.

She said: “Where the initial fire was we had a fire door and the fire brigade said the fire had been started from outside the building. It is on wooden joists and it looks like they pulled the kick board off and set fire to it underneath. Luckily no one was here at the time.”

She warned people to stay away from the burnt out unit.

“Until we can get it sorted people should stay away from it. The last thing we want is people going in and getting hurt.”

The organisation, formerly known as the Thorpe Edge Furniture Service, has been running for more than 20 years.

Police are urging witnesses or anyone with any information about the incident to contact officers at Idle and Thackley Neighbourhood Policing Team on (01274) 376168.

Anyone who wishes to help replenish the service’s stock by donating furniture can contact the organisation on (01274) 774977.