ANGRY councillors have called for greater police presence in Otley after yet another devastating fire in the town.

Calls are also being made for those responsible to be named - even if their ages protect their anonymity.

For the second time in just five months a major fire broke out last week at the old tannery in Gay Lane.

The fire, which is being investigated and has led to the arrest of two teenage boys, was tackled by more than 60 firemen for more than four hours and meant the evacuation of homes in Gay Lane.

Sainsbury's, which owns the site, was forced to demolish the partially destroyed tannery after it was declared unsafe.

Last week's fire comes after a suspicious blaze at the new Wharfedale Hospital in June and numerous other suspected arson attacks at other buildings, including Prince Henry's Grammar School.

Despite police promising a greater presence in the town only last month and tough action against anyone deliberately setting fire to buildings, councillors say not enough is being done.

Otley's Mayor, Councillor Nigel Francis said people in the town had had enough.

"It is only a matter of time before someone is killed. The people who do this have no respect for anything.

"I would like to see the majority of people in this town take action now and if they see anyone messing about report it immediately

"My concern is every time something like this happens it's the firefighters whose lives are being put at risk," he said.

Coun Francis said he would be pushing the town council to apply to the courts to waive the anonymity of three girls charged with arson at Prince Henry's Grammar School last month.

"The biggest problem is the rumours going on in the town, you just don't know what to believe. So many people say they know who is responsible."

Councillor Graham Kirkland said he did not believe enough was being done by the police.

"There is a distinct shortage of community police officers. I think people are resigned to what is going on but they are mystified why the fires are being allowed to carry on."

Councillor John Eveleigh, leader of the Labour group on the town council, said he believed people were frustrated that although arrests had been made, the fires were still going on.

"There are so many vulnerable buildings and not just derelict ones, but empty schools, it is very worrying. There has got to be a more effective way of dealing with this. I know the police have a fairly limited staff, but they are the only public service I know that can get away with just saying they are short staffed."

Otley ward councillors held a meeting on Friday last week to discuss what could be done.

Councillor Clive Fox (Con, Otley and Wharfedale), CIT chairman, said: "My reaction is one of anger.

"I'm angry that there appears to be some parents who take no interest whatsoever in what their children are getting up to.

"I'm angry that the authorities have failed to get on top of the a situation in Otley which has clearly got out of hand and angry that a prominent building in the town's conservation area which could have been sympathetically converted has been lost in a series of arson attacks."

A spokeswoman for Sainsbury's said the company was working closely with Leeds City Council to make sure the tannery site was safe.

"Part of the tannery had been destroyed by an arson attack in April.

After the second fire on Thursday last week, the city council declared the structure to be unsafe and requested it to be demolished," she added.

"Sainsbury's co-ordinated the demolition of the remaining part of the tannery on Sunday. Sainsbury's is continuing to clear the site and the company's priority is to ensure that the site is safe and secure."

l A 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy from Otley were arrested in connection with the fire at the tannery. They have been released on police bail.

Three teenage girls have been charged in relation to a fire at Prince Henry's Grammar School, Otley on August 10. They are due to appear in court again in Leeds on September 12.