A BLAZE ripped through an empty flat in York early today, destroying the roof and damaging the shop below.

Three pumps, from York and Acomb, attended the fire, which wrecked a bedroom and damaged the roof of the building in Tang Hall Lane.

There was some water damage to the ground floor and the premises below.

The cause of the fire is not known, although a spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: "There is no reason to suggest it is anything untoward".