Appeal following arson attack in Skipton

Police are appealing for information following an arson attack in Skipton in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

At around 2am on 13 June, bags of waste carpet were set alight outside a flat in Clifford Court in Skipton.

The fire spread to a wheelie bin outside the front porch, scorching the frame of the porch and melting the wheelie bin.  

Thankfully the occupant of the flat was woken by his smoke alarm which had been activated by the smoke entering a window vent.

The flat was undamaged inside, but the outside porch sustained minor damage.

Detective Sergeant Alan Browne of Skipton CID, said: "This was a very dangerous and reckless act which endangered the life of the occupants of two flats.

"It demonstrates the effectiveness and importance of installing smoke alarms, had the alarm not been raised when it had, the consequences could have been much worse."

"I am appealing to anyone who saw or heard any suspicious activity outside Clifford Court in the early hours of Wednesday morning to contact the police.

Anyone who has any information is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Skipton CID.

Or, you can give information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

An 18-year-old local man has been arrested and released on bail while police enquiries continue.

A separate incident was reported in Lothersdale near Keighley this morning (14 June 2012) when some re-cycling bins were set alight at around 4.30am. Police are not linking the two incidents.

14 June 2012