Scores of firefighters tackled a blaze which ripped through the centre section of Bradford's historic Lister's Mill last night.

The fire started shortly after 7am in the roof of the mill complex in Manningham, Bradford, which is partly used for warehouse storage.

Flames spread through the second and third floor wrecking a large part of the inside of the building and leaving a huge plume of smoke over the area.

West Yorkshire Fire Service Divisional Officer Nigel Charleston, who led the firefighting operation, said the blaze had been fierce on the upper levels and was difficult to reach as it was in the centre of the building.

"It was an awkward part to get to and we had to go quite a way into the building to get to the fire.

"We do not know how the fire started but there was a fire investigation officer on the scene who was due to go in when the ground had been made safe."

Crowds gathered as 15 fire engines and police arrived at the scene and the last crews were still damping down the building until 5am today.

Steve Newton, chairman of Woolcomb Court Residents' Association, who saw the blaze said a spate of recent fires at the mill was causing concern.

"It is becoming a problem. There was a fire last week and that wasn't an isolated episode. We also had the fire brigade round a few nights ago when a blaze was started on nearby waste ground.

"It is something we are concerned about and we have been for almost four years but at the moment it is not clear who we can take the matter up with."

Mr Newton said part of the building was owned by Haddow Holdings which lets part of it off for storage.

Urban Splash, run by Manchester-based businessman Tom Bloxham, has plans in the pipeline to redevelop the south wing of the vast complex which is rapidly deteriorating from a combination of vandalism and decay.

Experts predict it will cost £500,000 to carry out emergency repair on the south mill which is a Grade II listed building and at least £4 million to renovate it.