Firefighters have launched an investigation into a suspicious blaze which destroyed a house in Poppleton, York, today.

Acomb fire brigade was alerted to the blaze by a milkman who saw smoke coming from the house in Upper Poppleton at about 1am.

Although the house is known to be unoccupied, there were signs that somebody had been inside before the firefighters arrived.

Sub officer Mick Allison said: "Entry had been made to the premises and it is being investigated.

"It was an empty house, but it was not derelict and it was furnished. We do not know how long it had been empty, but there was evidence of a break-in. Furniture appeared to have been moved around inside."

The fire service fought the blaze with four appliances. It was still smoking heavily seven hours after it was first spotted.

Updated: 11:13 Tuesday, May 01, 2001