POLICE say a fire at a Radford industrial unit could have been started by arsonists.

A fire investigation team are still attempting to determine the cause of the blaze.

Six fire crews from Stockhill, West Bridgford and Central fire stations were called to the incident at an industrial unit in Boden Street just before 4am today. They remained at the scene until about 10.30am.

The roof of the building has collapsed.

From the outside of the building the charred remains inside were clearly visible.

Mick Howden, 81, who lives across the road from the factory said he was woken at about 4am when the fire engines arrived.

He said: "I woke up and could hear sirens and just laid there for a bit. Then I thought I'm going to get up and see what's going off.

"I looked out the window and could see the flames coming out of the building from the roof and from the back.

"It seemed to be going on for ages. There were loads of fire engines here."

Watch manager Jazz Hayer arrived at the scene at 7am.

He said: "There were still some flames when I got here though most of them had been put out.

"It was a very intense fire and it has left a lot of damage throughout the building. We did manage to contain the fire to just the one unit.

"We will have to decide whether the building is structurally safe or whether it needs to be pulled down."

Resident Carol Mason said she opened her curtains this morning to see a number of fire engines outside her house in Old Mill Close.

"The fire was out when I woke up and opened my curtains," she said.

"Looking at the number of police and fire engines that were here it must have been quite severe.

"That area is full of old disused factories it's about time they did something about it.

"We used to get problems with kids throwing stones at the windows of the factories."

Another resident who did not want to be named said: "It was a bit of a shock to see all the police and fire engines on my doorstep when I got up.

"It looks like they are going to be here for quite a while.

"It must have been a really bad fire looking at the damage to the building."

All roads around the scene have now reopened.

Police said the road was cordoned off originally due to fears the building may collapse.