Skip lorry driven at Sheffield house then torched Published duration 22 October 2019

image copyright YappApp image caption The lorry was reversed into the house in Sheffield

A skip lorry was deliberately driven into a house before being set alight by arsonists.

Police said the arson attack on a property in Shirehall Road, Sheffield, on Monday evening was targeted.

The lorry was deliberately reversed into the house, then its cab was set on fire before the arsonists fled.

They left in another vehicle that crashed on Beck Road. Police said the fire did not spread, but two people had been rescued from the property.

South Yorkshire Police said in a statement: "Detectives are currently investigating a suspected arson in Sheffield.

"Police believe the incident on Shirehall Road was a targeted act and officers are in the local area carrying out initial inquiries."

image caption The house has been badly damaged

Two residents who did not want to be named spoke to BBC News.

The first, a woman, said: "I'm absolutely disgusted, those next door to me, they've had bricks put through their window, but that is absolutely shocking.

"It's the first time I've seen it, I could cry seeing that. It used to be a beautiful estate.

"I just don't know what people are thinking about these days, it's just disgusting."

The second person said: "I could just hear this skip, this banging on this house, back and forward, it was really trying to knock this house out.

"It shocked my kids, I took them out when the fire was on, it's not safe to be honest."