A FIERCE blaze which destroyed a shop in Bradford early today is being treated as a suspected arson attack.

Three fire crews from Bradford and Odsal stations were called to the mini-market in Paley Road, East Bowling, at about 2.20am. An aerial appliance from Halifax was also used.

The entire two-storey terraced building, which included a flat above the shop, was consumed by the fire but no-one was injured.

The flat, which is believed to have been undergoing a renovation, was unoccupied at the time.

Paley Road was temporarily closed in both directions between Wakefield Road/Upper House Street and Bowling Hall Road/Hall Lane while the fire was put out but was reopened this morning as damping down continued.

The alarm was raised by Stephen Scholfield, who lives opposite the shop, after he spotted flames behind the shop's security shutters.

“It was well alight within five minutes. It was frightening the speed with which the fire went through it," he said.

“The owners have put a lot of work and money into the shop. You don’t realise how fast fire can go through somewhere until you see it.”

Alistair MacLellan, watch commander at Bradford fire station, said: "The shop has been gutted by the fire. It was under control after about an hour."

Fire investigators were examining the scene today but a police spokesman confirmed the incident was being treated as suspected arson.