FIRE ripped through a building at a York allotment field, in the latest of a spate of suspected arson attacks in the city.

The blaze destroyed the Poppleton Road allotments storage building, off Boroughbridge Road, causing its roof to collapse.

Peter Burn, chairman of the Poppleton Road Allotment Association, said damage from the fire, which began at 4am, was absolutely devastating.

He said: "This is by far the worst vandalism we have ever had. The building looks as though it is completely written off.

"The roof has completely collapsed inwards. It is a concrete building, but everything inside has gone."

Mr Burn said: "I have been on the allotment committee for 30 years, and it is absolutely devastating. The vandalism is absolutely mindless."

Andy Savory, temporary crew manager at Acomb Fire Station, said: "It was started deliberately. It's too early to say exactly what happened.

"We have suffered a few fires before with kids. We had one appliance here and five firefighters."

"The whole building is severely damaged by fire. It is basically destroyed. It will have to be pulled down and started afresh."

Firefighters considered evacuating local residents, due to concerns over fumes from burning fertiliser inside the building, but the wind direction made that unnecessary.

North Yorkshire Police spokesman Tony Lidgate said the incident had not yet been reported to them as an arson attack.

Last Tuesday, firefighters were called to two arson attacks in quick succession on cars in Acomb and Lowfield, prompting anger from fire brigade bosses.

Carl Boasman, communications manager of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Unfortunately, arson does account nationally for about 40 per cent of all fires.

"It is a criminal offence and puts lives at risk. When our resources are out dealing with fires that have been started deliberately, other incidents can occur and our resources are tied up dealing with incidents that could have been prevented."