Police were investigating an arson attack at a house in Bradford.

Officers remained at the terraced property in Curzon Street, Barkerend, yesterday while forensic tests were carried out.

No-one was injured in the blaze and the house – believed to be lived in by a man, woman and a child – was unoccupied when the fire started late on Sunday afternoon.

Next-door neighbour Ray Thompson, who was having a bath when he became aware of the blaze, said he thought petrol had been used to start the fire.

He said yesterday: “I looked out of the window and saw everyone on the street. I can still smell smoke in my attic. When I was in the bathroom I heard someone running up the stairs next-door and a heavy male voice.”

A badly-burned mattress and furniture remained outside the house yesterday and damage to the inside of the property could be glimpsed through an upstairs window.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Police were called at 5.27pm following reports of a house fire which occurred on Curzon Road in Bradford. Initial investigations suggest it had been started deliberately and officers are currently conducting inquiries surrounding the circumstances.

  • Read the full story in Tuesday's T&A