FIREFIGHTERS from across West Yorkshire were scrambled to a derelict building blaze over fears a group of children could be trapped inside.

Six fire engines were called to the major fire at the disused Maccess cash-and-carry in Spen Lane, Gomersal, on Saturday night.

Neighbours had reported seeing children inside, so four crew members had to put on breathing apparatus to search for casualties, but the burning building was found to be empty.

Firefighters have now issued a stark warning to young people to steer clear of disused buildings for their own safety.

A crew from Batley fire station were first to arrive, after being called out shortly after 8pm. They were then joined by crews from Odsal, Brighouse, Dewsbury and an aerial appliance from Bradford fire station.

Batley fire station watch commander Jonathan Brants said: “When we got there, there was a structure on the roof that was well alight.”

He said they were soon alerted by a neighbour that children could be inside.

He said: “One of the nearby residents came to us and said they had seen children within the building, so after hearing that we had to commit two teams of four, with breathing apparatus, inside to do a search.”

Fortunately, the building was clear, so the firefighters attacked the blaze from above to stop it enveloping the entire rest of the two-storey structure.