A FEROCIOUS fire that destroyed a flat in Bradford last night is believed to have been started deliberately.

The blaze consumed the first-floor property in Firethorn Close, Four Lane Ends, and left its occupier - a man in his 60s - needing treatment for smoke inhalation.

Fire crews from Fairweather Green, Bradford, Shipley and Bingley stations were called to the scene at about 7.45pm.

Residents living nearby said flames were pouring out of windows, while a fire station commander said a huge cloud of smoke spread about 100 metres around the scene.

"It was ferocious blazed with very high temperatures, perhaps up to 1,000C," said Watch Commander Adrian Pilling, of Fairweather Green station.

Iftekhar Ahmed, who lives in nearby Hoxton Street, said: "It was roaring. You could see the intensity of it and it was crackling away.

"Everything had melted. You could see things disintegrate in front of you."

Police said a 60-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of arson.