A DISABLED driver believes his car and house were targeted in an arson revenge attack following a "minor shunt" earlier that day.

The 53-year-old grandfather and his family were woken at about 11.30pm on Saturday by a "whooshing" noise after petrol had been poured over the front of his £20,000, 2015-plate old Citroen Picasso.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

The badly damaged car

The flames quickly spread to his house in Banksfield Avenue, Yeadon, causing damage to the porch and his lounge windows.

The man, who has a heart condition and other serious health issues and did not want to be named, said the incident had left him "very, very scared" and too frightened to be named.

He escaped from the burning house along with his wife, five-year-old grandson, his daughter, son-in-law and their dog.

"We were all in bed when, all of a sudden, there was a 'whoosh' and I could see a bright glow through the curtains," he said.

"My grandson was terrified and crying. We were all scared and didn't sleep last night. It has been very frightening. I am still numb."

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

The scene of the arson attack

He believes that an earlier incident on Midland Road, near to the Valley Parade stadium, may be linked to the arson attack.

He had been toy shopping with the family when a blue car pulled out on him at around 3.40pm, he said.

"They just pulled out in front of me. I could not avoid them. I swerved and clipped him. Two guys got out and we exchanged details and then this (arson) happened. I think it's linked, it's too much of a coincidence."

He described the men as "polite" as they swapped details.

An ambulance came to check on his grandson who was "shaken up".

The retired fork lift truck driver added: "It was just a shunt. I drove home with a damaged bumper and a damaged light. Their car had minor damage. I was travelling at about 15mph at the time as I had slowed down for a coach."

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

The front of the car was destroyed

His daughter said her little boy was crying when he saw the flames as he thought the dog would die.

"I don't know what to think," she said. "We were all in bed when I heard mum screaming. She screamed to wake my dad up."

Neighbours were shocked by the arson attack.

One near-neighbour, a woman in her 20s, said she had seen a suspicious blue 4x4-type car parked nearby shortly before the fire.

"I heard a loud bang and saw the car go up in flames. It's shocking."

A police spokesman: "Our forensics people have attended and statements have been taken at the crime scene.

"Accelerants had been poured on the front of the vehicle."

He said all lines of inquiry would be pursued including the road traffic incident.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

The fire spread to the house

A fire service spokesman said: "The fire had spread to the front room and porch area. The rapid intervention of the Rawdon crew stopped it from escalating into a more severe incident."

He said that the fire had blown out windows and caused smoke damage to the property.

Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101.