An arson attack on a flat in Colne yesterday has left two firefighters injured.

Police and fire crews were called to a flat off Keighley Road shortly after 3.30am by the occupant who had returned home to find his first-floor flat broken into and set alight.

The 43-year-old man managed to wake his downstairs neighbour and help him to safety from the terraced house converted into two flats.

Another next-door neighbour was also evacuated from his home.

Sixteen firefighters, from Colne and Nelson fire stations, wearing breathing equipment arrived but had difficulty gaining access to the flat as the fire was out of control.

A Fire Service spokesman said: “When we arrived in Keighley Road we had reports of a person trapped.

“Getting into the flat was really difficult because of the ferociousness of the fire.

“Two of our firefighters injured themselves as we were trying to get into the building.

“One banged his knee and the other seriously cut his finger on a forcible entry tool and has had to have an operation and time off work.”

Police are now investigating the cause of the fire which is being treated as suspicious and are linking it to a wheelie bin fire in Williams Street, Colne, at around 3.30am.

Det Insp Jim Elston, who is leading the investigation, said: “This fire had the potential to cause fatalities or at the very least very serious injuries.

“We believe this fire to be suspicious as there is evidence that property was stolen from the flat before the fire was started.

“We also received a call from a member of the public who saw a man setting fire to a wheelie bin in Williams Street.

"We have reason to believe the two incidents are connected.”

Call police on 0845 1 25 35 45.