Police and fire investigators at the scene of the fatal garage fire yesterday in Bradford Road, Pudsey
A fire and police investigation was under way today after the body of a man was found in a garage.
The discovery was made by firefighters as they were putting out a blaze in the building in Bradford Road, Woodhall, Pudsey, just after 2am yesterday.
Two engines from Stanningley were on the scene within minutes. Firefighters discovered the man dead in the garage.
The area remained cordoned off while police forensic teams and fire investigation officers started their inquiries.
The burnt-out garage, which is one of a block of four, is set back from the busy road, behind Why Eat Chinese Takeaway and Desi Sweet Centre.
Owner of the takeaway Kasper Wong, who also owns the garage, but does not live at the property, said: "It was about three o'clock when I arrived down here and I was told there had been a fire at the shop, and at first I thought the shop had been burnt down.
"When I arrived they told me the fire was in the garage. I told them that the garage was locked, and that I never really go into it. I don't use it, it's just full of rubbish. In fact I haven't been into it for about four or five months."
"I was half asleep when I was giving the police a statement, but when they said, Do you know that there was a body in there?' that woke me up. I thought that couldn't be right, no-one lives in there, there's no electric, no gas, no water."
Mr Wong, 29, said with it being cold maybe someone had gone inside the garage and had lit a fire to keep warm. "It's lucky the building was made of concrete and metal, because if it had been wood, the houses would have also burned," he added.
A shop assistant, who did not want to be identified, from Chahal General Store, which is next to the Chinese take-away, said: "I did come past at about the time the fire must have started. I saw some flames in the garage and called Kasper to tell him."
Trevor Lund, group manager of the regional fire investigation team for North Yorkshire, who is assisting the West Yorkshire fire investigation team with their inquiries, said: "There has been a serious incident here and there will be a full investigation.
"Forensics have now arrived on the scene and will be proceeding with the investigation."
A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police confirmed they were called to the scene just after 2.30am. "During the course of extinguishing the fire, crews discovered a body of a male inside the garage.
"Inquiries are continuing by the police and fire service into the cause of the fire and into the identity of the deceased."
Detective Superintendent Bill Shackleton of the West Yorkshire Police Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, who is leading the investigation, said yesterday evening: "At this stage the fire would not appear to be malicious, but joint investigations are continuing."
The coroner has been informed of the man's death and an inquest was likely to be opened later today.
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