TWO people were led to safety by firefighters after arsonists barricaded a York flat with a sofa and set fire to it.

Only smoke alarms at Adelphi House, in Windsor Garth, Acomb, alerted residents to the blaze, which was started just after 1am today.

North Yorkshire fire and rescue bosses said it was believed the fire was started deliberately after the sofa was used to "barricade someone into a flat".

Firefighters rescued the two occupants of Flat 11 and paramedics gave them first aid at the scene, but they did not have to go to hospital and were able to return to their home.

It is not yet known whether the two people rescued were the intended target of the arsonists, who set fire to cushions which were on the sofa.

The fire engines were called to the flat block at 1.23am after smoke alarms fitted to the council properties were activated.

Police are investigating how the sofa came to be set alight in the flat block's communal hallway and are appealing for witnesses.

They said they were treating the incident as "suspicious".

Updated: 10:11 Monday, April 11, 2005