A HOUSE fire in Derby is being treated as suspicious by Derbyshire Police after flames ripped through the property.

Crews from Ascot Drive fire station were called to the blaze, in Holcombe Street, Pear Tree, at about 2.10am yesterday.

When they arrived, they found the two-storey terraced house well alight and requested the attendance of the police after discovering signs of forced entry.

The fire was put out by around 2.45am and firefighters remained at the scene until around 3.30am when police taped off the house.

No-one was at the property or hurt in the incident.

Neighbour Mark Smith was woken by the smell of smoke coming from the house.

The 40-year-old said: "There was a lot of smoke.

"I had a baby in bed and my partner went out of the room where there was a stink of smoke. It really was bad.

"There was a family that lived there but no-one has seen them for a while.

"It could have been arsonist or people messing about.

"It's horrible to think people might do this for fun."

Police and fire investigators spent yesterday at the property looking for signs of what might have caused the blaze.

Another Holcombe Street resident who witnessed the incident was Gertrude Jimu.

She said: "I was woken in the night by fire engines and police cars outside.

"It was scary to see and I have no idea why it happened.

"I think there were two parents who lived there and they had a young son.

"I used to see them washing their car quite often but I have not seen them for about three weeks."

A fire service spokesman confirmed crews stayed at the scene until police taped off the property.

He said: "The house was made a crime scene by police at around 3.25am."

A police spokesman said officers spent 10 hours at the scene investigating the cause.

He said: "We are treating the cause of the fire as suspicious but the results of the investigation will not be known for a while."

Councillor Fareed Hussain, who represents Arboretum ward at Derby City Council, said he hoped those responsible for the fire were caught quickly.

He said: "It is a serious crime these people have committed and I would urge the police to do everything in their power to bring them to book.

"This could have had dire consequences both on the people who live at the house and the neighbours with the potential for fire to spread quickly.

"It was a very serious risk to the neighbourhood."