The fire was started in bins beneath electricity boxes close to gas meters outside two homes in Cottingley Drive at 2.13am on Sunday.

An adult and three children were at one of the homes and seven people, including five children and two adults were inside the other house when the arsonist struck.

The residents were alerted to the danger after hearing a loud bang and smelling smoke. They made their own way out of the properties and fortunately no-one was injured.

Officers from the City and Holbeck Neighbourhood Police Team have conducted house-to-house enquiries and City and Holbeck CID are investigating the crimes as an offence of committing arson with intent to endanger life.

The occupants of one of the homes included children aged six, 12, 14 and a 40 year-old. The seven residents present in the other property included children aged two, three, four, eight and 13 and two adults 33 and 34-years-old.

Det Insp Jaz Khan of City and Holbeck Police, said: "This incident had the potential to endanger lives.

"I would like to make an appeal to the community. Do you know anyone who is responsible for this? Do you have information that could assist the police? Call 0845 6060606 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."