THESE pictures were taken moments after a camper van burst into flames, before rolling across a road and nearly setting a family house on fire.
Witnesses saw the flaming van career across the road in Duesbury Street off Princes Avenue, west Hull, before it came to a halt at the front of a home.
Simon Alton, who owns the van, said a homeless man was inside it when the blaze started.
He said: "A man broke into my camper van in my garden.
"It went up in flames and as it went up the ignition somehow started and it travelled through my garden, across the road and into a house.
"It was a shock – anything like that is a shock."
The man got out of the van and was restrained by witnesses until emergency services arrived.
Mr Alton, 49, said he only realised what had happened when a neighbour banged on his window.
He said: "We don't know how long the man had been in there.
"It was one night, maximum. Luckily, I'm insured so the damage should be covered."
As it rolled out of the garden, the van set fire to a portable cabin Mr Alton stores business materials in.
The van also broke a window on the house, which belongs to Valentina Whiting, 49.
Dr Whiting and her partner were both out when the fire began.
She said: "We arrived home and the van was burnt and one of our windows was smashed.
"We've been told the van started rolling towards our house on fire and only the garbage bin saved the house."
The bins formed a barrier, protecting the house from the flames.
"We were very lucky – we only left the house 30 minutes before it happened," said Dr Whiting, who has lived on the street for four years.
"Many people were outside and everyone was very worried.
"This area can have problems on a Friday night but not like this."
The man inside the van was taken to hospital, where he was treated for slight smoke inhalation.
Mr Alton said police were investigating and officers had told him the man was now in custody.
Humberside Fire and Rescue Service were called to the fire shortly before 2pm on Saturday.
Last night, police would not say if any arrests had been made.
