POLICE have appealed for witnesses after a blaze destroyed a kitchen in Burnley.

Officers launched the investigation after the fire gutted the kitchen of the unoccupied house in Fraser Street.

The blaze spread through the ground floor and stairs and caused smoke damage to the remainder of the house.

Police said an accelerant was used on the house, which was empty at the time of the fire.

They have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

DC Chris Scott, of Burnley CID, said: “The fire brigade were called out to the fire but there was nobody inside.

“From the initial fire investigations it would appear that accelerant was used and it is being treated as an arson attack.

“We are appealing for witnesses because or anyone who saw people acting suspiciously to contact us.

“The house was unoccupied at the time but the fire could have spread to the neighbouring properties and it could have been a serious incident.”

Anyone who saw anything or has any information about the fire, which occurred on Thursday at 8.50pm, should contact CID on 01282 472240 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.