POLICE investigating a fire in Mansfield Crescent, in Brierfield, on Tuesday have drawn a blank and are appealing to members of the public for help.

Residents Rosalind and Geoffrey Gregory were downstairs when the fire broke out at around 12.40am and managed to climb out of their living room window to safety.

But police, who are treating the fire as suspicious, believe the consequences could have been a lot worse if the couple had been in bed at the time.

Despite carrying out house-to-house inquiries in the area, they have got no further in finding out how the fire, which originated in the kitchen area in a utility room, began.

DC Peter Greenwood said: "We are treating it as suspicious at this stage and are appealing for anyone who has information. We are fairly happy it was not an electrical fault which caused it.

"Potentially it could have been quite dangerous if they had been in bed."

Mr and Mrs Gregory are staying with relatives after being told their house is not fit to live in.

The pantry and kitchen were quite badly damaged by fire and the whole house was smoke-logged.