Streets without nameplates and missing house numbers are costing firefighters vital seconds in emergencies.

Fire crews across the Bradford district say an increasing number of properties have either no number on the door, or ones too small to pick out.

And they say some housing developers are moving people into newly-built properties before putting up street nameplates - making it difficult for fire crews to find their way.

A fire brigade spokesman explained: "Missing house numbers and street nameplates on new estates is a growing problem. It's very rare you see flames coming from a building. In fact, most domestic fires cannot be spotted from a distance.

"Each fire crew knows its patch, but the problem comes when people move into new estates before the street names are up. In some cases firefighters have had to knock on the doors of properties and ask the owner where they live."

In Sandy Lane, Bryant Homes is only part way through building a new 92-house estate, but some of the first properties to be finished have already been filled. Although the development has an overall name - Greenwood Estate - no street nameplates have been put up.

Missing house numbers are proving just as problematic. Leading Firefighter Stephen Wolstenholme, of Bradford Central Fire Station, said: "You'd be surprised how many houses don't have numbers on any more. Maybe it's down to people replacing their doors for security reasons. Stopping the engine to check may only take a minute, but in this job that can be vital."

And Les Cowling, station officer at Odsal Fire Station, urged all resident to ensure there is a visible number on their property.

A Bradford Council spokesman said it was the responsibility of housing developers to put up street nameplates.

"We would expect the plates - temporary or permanent - to be in place before people begin to move in to ensure the emergency services can find their way around.''

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.