Arson attack forces elderly couple out of York home
An arson attack has forced an elderly couple out of their home where they have lived for 40 years.
Lighted material was thrown through the living room window of the house in Lucas Avenue in Clifton, York, at about 21:00 GMT on Friday.
The couple, who were in at the time, were not injured but the house was badly damaged and left uninhabitable.
Police said the couple were deeply distressed and had not ruled out the possibility of mistaken identity.
Det Con Adam Heatlie, of York CID, said: "This was a callous and cowardly attack on an elderly couple, which has deprived them of their home for 40 years."
He added: "We do not know why anyone would target this property. At this stage we have not ruled out the possibility that this was a case of mistaken identity."
Detectives want to hear from witnesses who may have seen anyone in the Clifton area on Friday evening with a green plastic petrol can.