A garage which was rebuilt without permission could have to be demolished.

The garage in the residential area of Rochester Street, Bradford Moor, was damaged in a fire in 2007.

Firefighters feared a fireball could have erupted after gas cylinders were discovered near to a burning van.

The garage and store was then rebuilt following the fire but without planning permission. An application was turned down by Bradford Council, as was an appeal to inspectors. Residents are also concerned that what is supposed to be a domestic garage is being run as a commercial operation.

Fresh plans had been submitted to partially demolish the garage to create a smaller one, but these were turned down. Information that the garage was being used for commercial repairs and the disturbance to residents was blamed.

Bradford Moor Councillor Mohammed Shafiq (Lab) said: “The location is wholly inappropriate and local people are sick and tired of this.”

Ian Horsfall, the Council’s senior enforcement officer, said their legal department are now in the process of preparing enforcement notices for the owner to demolish the garage.

Philip Coote, planning agent for the garage owner Ian Crossley, said it was likely they would appeal against the refusal. He said the Council could have approved a domestic garage and simply added a condition to stop commercial activities.