AN ABANDONED boat has been destroyed by a fire in York this morning (July 11), which is believed to have been started deliberately.

A crew was called to the Broad Lane area of Nether Poppleton at around 8.40am where the boat was on fire. They used one hose reel jet to put out the flames.

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "The boat was destroyed by the fire and the cause is believed to be deliberate."

Police are appealing to anyone who was in the area and saw the boat being left or any suspicious people or vehicles in the area to contact them. Phone 101.