A FAMILY has issued a plea for public help to find arsonists who torched two cars parked in a Keighley street this morning.

Heat from the blazing vehicles damaged neighbouring terrace houses, melting the plastic doors and downpipes and cracking windows.

The homes, in Spencer Street, were unoccupied at the time.

But a relative of the householders, who asked not to be named, said the incident could have ended in tragedy.

"Normally the families would be there and you just don't know what could have happened," he said.

"They are good, hard-working, honest people with their own businesses.

"Why someone would do this I just don't know.

"If anyone knows anything, I would ask them to come forward."

Police are investigating the incident, which happened at about 4.30am.

One crew from Keighley Fire Station was called out and when it arrived at the scene, both vehicles – a BMW and a Volkswagen Golf – were well alight.

Firefighters, one wearing breathing apparatus, used two hose reels to extinguish the flames.

The VW was completely destroyed and the BMW extensively damaged.

"Once we arrived we had the fire under control quickly and spent about 45 minutes at the scene," said Keighley Fire Station watch commander, Michael Rhodes.

"There was quite a bit of damage to the homes too, but it was from heat rather directly from the flames."