FIREFIGHTERS battled for half an hour to tackle a fireball, started by leaking petrol in the garage of a house in Hurrs Road, Skipton.

Arriving shortly before 3pm on Saturday, the fire brigade discovered that the garage door had been partly blown off and there was a severe fire raging inside.

As firefighters started to drag the door out of the way, there was a sudden ignition of petrol vapour causing a fireball.

Smoke filled a neighbouring property where a family pet was still inside. Fortunately the occupiers returned to release the black Labrador, called Bonny, before it suffered any ill effects.

Firefighters remained at the property for an hour carrying out damping down operations.

Investigations into the fire suggest that the initial explosion was caused by petrol vapour from a motorcycle in the garage being ignited by an electrical spark.

It is believed the occupier had filled the motorcycle tank to the brim and in the hot weather, the fuel had expanded and leaked out. It then vaporised, creating a vapour cloud which was then ignited.

Station Officer Richard Bacon has issued a warning to prevent any similar incidents.

He said: "In periods of hot weather it is not advisable to fill petrol tanks full to the brim as in the heat the fuel expands and vapour leaks out. It's not worth squeezing in that extra drop.

"There could have been a similar incident which was averted last year. A car driver filled the tank full and left it in the main car park behind the town hall in the full sun. This resulted in leaking petrol which luckily was seen by a member of the public who raised the alarm."