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.
“This has cost me about £4,000 or £5,000 – there was furniture up there as well as the cost of the van. I don’t know what I’ll do now.”
Mr Pearson’s van was parked on wasteland off New Mill Road and was used for advertising purposes for his Lockwood-based company.
Similar vehicles are parked in the area and he’s had reports that his vehicle was not the only one targeted.
He added: “Previous to this a man had his Astra damaged. It was in a secure compound with barbed wire around it and someone climbed over and hit the bodywork. The same person’s 4x4 was damaged a few years back.”
“Where the location is it’s just over a dip in the road, so it’s out of sight.
“Someone told me that you can see circles on the land where cars have been doing revs up there.”
A spokeswoman for West Yorkshire Police confirmed the incident was being treated as arson.
She said: “We were called at 10.03pm on Thursday night to reports of a van fire on New Mill Road, Holmfirth.
“The incident is being treated as arson and enquiries remain ongoing.
“There are no recent reports of similar activities and anyone with information is asked to contact police Pc Bancroft at Holmfirth Police Station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
