The owners of an illegal Bradford tyre dump that caught fire and burned for almost three weeks in 2020 may have to pay towards the cost of its million-pound clean-up operation.

Stuart Bedford and Vicky Bedford appeared before Bradford Crown Court earlier this week to be sentenced for their part in the huge blaze, which took 100 firefighters 20 days to extinguish.

The cost of cleaning up the former go-kart track on Spring Mill Street, which was left covered in black sludge and partially burned tyres, was estimated to be more than £1.1m.

Stuart Bedford, of Fairfax Avenue, Harrogate, described as “the controlling mind” behind the site, which had almost 570,000 waste tyres stacked on it, was jailed for 12 months.

His former wife, Vicky Bedford, of Fairgrey Close, Ripon, described as “a straw director” of Shipley-based company Equalityre Limited, was handed a 12-month community order.

The fire, which was close to the city centre, impacted more than 14,000 pupils in 25 schools, affected housing, businesses, medical facilities, and care homes, and disrupted road and rail travel in and out of Bradford.

The pair were prosecuted by the Environment Agency which, alongside Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, had visited the site and ordered Bedford to make it safe.

Prosecutor Joseph Millington said it was not currently possible to move forward with a confiscation order under proceeds of crime due to the absence of company accounts.

On that basis confiscation proceedings against Equalityre Limited were adjourned until December 6 this year.

In sentencing the Bedfords His Honour Judge Jonathan Gibson described the fire as “huge” and the consequences for the city “enormous”.

He also paid tribute to the “valiant efforts” of fire crews who fought the blaze for a “protracted period of time”.

A spokesperson for Bradford Council said the authority welcomed the result in court.

They said: “This fire caused major disruption for local residents and was a real threat to life. It resulted in families and vulnerable people being moved, schools and businesses needing to close, transport links being suspended, as well as environmental damage and a large financial cost to the public purse.

“The illegal storage of tyres puts our communities and our environment at risk and it cannot be tolerated.

“It is vital that businesses follow waste legislation when it comes to storing dangerous waste. We will always work with our partners to take action against those who do not follow waste legislation, putting people’s lives and businesses at risk and cause environmental damage.”

Area Manager for Operational Response at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, Scott Donegan, said “The tyre fire at Spring Mill Street in November 2020 was one of the largest and most resource-intensive in the last decade of operations at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

“It required hundreds of hours of firefighting time and effort, by almost 100 operational staff.

“It diverted valuable resources from the fire and rescue service and other partners which would have been better used in support of the public during the Covid pandemic.

“This was a preventable fire, caused in part by the illegal waste management activities of the defendants.

“The sentences they have received highlight the significant dangers these illegal storage activities present to the public and our environment.

“We would like to thank our colleagues at the Environment Agency for their hard work and dedication in bringing this successful prosecution.”