A FORMER car showroom was gutted by fire early today.
Several people phoned 999 after seeing flames shooting from the old Peugeot showroom off Northgate, Huddersfield, just before 4am.
Police told firefighters a tramp had been living in the building, so six firefighters wearing breathing apparatus went in to search for him.
Fortunately, he was not there, but the blaze had swept through the old showroom area and gutted it.
Sub-officer Simon Dennett, of Huddersfield fire station, said: "The fire was started deliberately and destroyed the front half of the building.
"The roof was made from asbestos, so we had to be decontaminated afterwards.
"Also, all our clothing has had to be sent away to be properly cleaned."
