A toddler is in hospital with serious burns after an incident at her house in Bradford.

The girl, who is almost two years old, is believed to have suffered burns to her upper body in what is understood to have been a tragic accident at the family home.

Her ten-month-old sister also suffered burns in the incident but was not thought to have been seriously hurt.

Witnesses reported seeing a small crying child, with burns to her body and wrapped in cling film, being carried to an ambulance.

Police were alerted to reports of a fire at the stone terraced house in Marsh Street, West Bowling, just before noon yesterday.

Fire crews from Odsal also attended, along with paramedics, who treated the children at the scene before they were taken to hospital.

A West Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed that two young children had received treatment from ambulance staff at the scene and were transported to Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The spokesman added: “We can confirm both children sustained burns. One is believed to be in a serious condition.”

The more seriously injured girl was last night being transferred to a specialist burns unit in Manchester.

Neighbour Pravin Patel told how he saw one child being carried into the waiting ambulance by a paramedic.

Mr Patel said: “The ambulancewoman was carrying the child in her arms. The little girl had burns to her upper body, round her back, and appeared to be covered in cling film. I could hear her crying when she was in the ambulance. Her mother was there, she was crying, too.”

Another neighbour, Norat Iqbal, said he left his shop and went to the scene after being told about the fire.

Mr Iqbal said: “When I arrived police were guarding the door and firemen were going in and out of the house. I could see no smoke or flames.

“I could see a rug in front of the gas fire in the front room. A small part of the rug had been burned but there did not appear to be any other damage. The gas fire had two fireguards in front of it. From what I have heard, it sounds to have been a terrible accident. I heard a child had been burned. It is shocking.

“An Asian family live there, a couple with two young children. They have only lived there about six months. I didn’t know them very well, but they seemed all right.”

A West Yorkshire Fire Service spokesman said they were called to the scene by police.

The spokesman said: “The fire, in a downstairs room, was out on our arrival and no firefighting was required.

“It was a serious incident, with quite serious injuries. The police are working with the fire investigation team to ascertain the cause of the fire.”

He said fire crews, as a result of the incident, had been visiting local residents to give advice about safety in their homes.

Police said two girls, aged 23 months and ten months, were injured and transported to hospital for treatment.

A spokesman said: “Inquiries are ongoing and at an early stage. Officers are liaising with fire investigators to establish the cause of the incident.”