THE emergency services were called out to a fire in York city centre in the early hours.

Police and fire crews were called to Gillygate shortly after 4am when a member of the public heard loud bangs and glass smashing and saw two figures coming out of a residential property. 
 

One eye witness said there were four fire engines and five police cars at the scene in minutes and smoke was coming from the building.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: "York and Acomb crews responded to a fire in a three storey residential building.

"The cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate. Crews extinguished the fire, which started in a bedroom, using hose reel jets and breathing apparatus. No people were injured. Fire damage confined to bedroom."

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "Officers closed the road to enable fire service colleagues to safely deal with the fire.

"There was no one in the property, and the road was reopened at 5.15am. Enquiries are ongoing this morning to determine what caused the fire."