ARSONISTS have torched a van in Holmfirth, leaving a business owner out of pocket.

Keith Pearson’s van was set alight by arsonists at 10pm on Thursday night.

Witnesses told him the sound of it exploding was like a bomb going off, with the van’s diesel catching fire.

And he says he’s had reports of other vehicles being targeted in the same area around New Mill Road.

Mr Pearson, owner of Classic Interiors in Lockwood, says he’s lost up to £5,000 in Thursday night’s fire.

“There’s been a lot of things happening up there, you just don’t expect it in such a nice place like Holmfirth.

“One of the residents said it was like the door was caving in on him when it was set alight.

“The diesel must have gone up and he said it sounded like a bomb had gone off.