A fellow worker of a man accused of starting 18 fires told a Court how he was alerted by the accused man to blazing machines at their firm.

Would-be fireman James Anthony Bradshaw denies starting 18 fires, three of which put lives in danger.

Bradshaw, 24, a father-of-two, was arrested in March 2004 after the bungalow where he was living, in Donisthorpe Street, West Bowling, was deliberately set alight.

Yesterday the jury heard evidence from maintenance worker John Sparling, of Russell Stone Merchants in Ripley Road, West Bowling. Mr Sparling said in a statement that he knew Bradshaw because his father had worked as a night watchman for the firm.

He said that in August 1999 Bradshaw ran up to him at work and told him three machines were on fire. Mr Sparling discovered rags soaked in diesel next to his new Land Rover Discovery. He said he thanked Bradshaw for alerting him to the blazes.

Bradshaw is accused of damaging two compressors and a loading shovel by fire at Russell Stone on August 4, 1999. He is said to have set fire to houses, sheds and vehicles, including starting a house fire on Christmas Day.

Prosecutor Gordon Lakin has told the jury at Leeds Crown Court that Bradshaw, who was turned down by the fire service, was either out for revenge or wanted to play the hero at the scenes of his blazes.

He is said to have greeted fire officers dressed as a security guard or building worker and pestered them with advice on how to fight his fires.

Police Sergeant Richard Abbott told the jury he was called to roadworks at Manchester Road, on May 15, 2001. There was a report that a man had been locked in a blazing portable toilet.

Sgt Abbott said Bradshaw was in an ambulance and told him he had been struck on the back of the head and woken up locked in the blazing portable toilet. He said his hands were bound but he had managed to kick his way out and call the fire service.

Sgt Abbott said he examined the toilet and saw no means of locking it from the outside.

Bradshaw denies arson to the portable toilet belonging to Alfred McAlpine.

Earlier, Frances Kirkbright, Bradshaw's next door neighbour in Donisthorpe Street, said he was always lighting bonfires in the back garden.

She said she feared for her garage and wooden fence and for the safety of her dog that was allowed the run of her garden.

"I was so used to seeing him with fires in the back garden I just thought he was obsessed about burning rubbish," she said.

The trial, which is expected to last three weeks, continues.