A GAS explosion caused a fire which almost completely gutted a Skipton cottage on Friday.

The blast, which happened on Chapel Hill near Skipton Castle, was reportedly heard as far away as Morrisons supermarket, almost half a mile away.

No-one was at home at the time of the blaze, except a hamster and some goldfish, which were later saved by firefighters from Skipton and Silsden stations.

Firefighters at the scene said the house looked 'like a bonfire' when they arrived after receiving their first call just before 7.40am on Friday, November 20.

Leading firefighter Ian Walton said: 'It was caused by a build-up of gas which ignited somehow. Initial reports said that someone had heard the explosion from Morrisons supermarket.

'The fire has totally destroyed 80 per cent of the premises and there's not only fire damage but water damage from our hoses. There's very little left.

'The owners of the property weren't at home thankfully. They had gone to Airedale Hospital for another reason.

'We used six breathing apparatus and four appliances, two each from Skipton and Silsden.

'We rescued a hamster and some goldfish from the house. The hamster was soaking wet but turned out to be fine.

'We transferred the fish to a clean bowl and they were OK as well.'

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