Firefighters from Keighley, Bingley and Silsden today stopped a blaze spreading into a Keighley mill.

The three crews soaked the roof of Beechcliffe Mills with water after timbers caught fire shortly before noon.

By the time firefighters arrived workers had evacuated the textile mill, which lies between Beechcliffe and the Aire Valley trunk road.

Keighley crew commander Matt Barnes said rubbish was being burned outside the mill and sparks reached the roof timber.

He said: “We could see a huge pall of black smoke as we got near the mill.

“We very quickly managed to get two hose-reel jets on to the roof, which prevented the fire spreading to the rest of the building.

“It took about half an hour to get the fire under control. Damage was limited to the roof, with minimal water damage.”

The fire crews had to take the ladders off the top of their vehicles so they could fit under a railway bridge as they travelled along Ride Lane to the mill.