Bosses have been left devastated by a fire which spread to a newly-refurbished Bradford children’s nursery causing thousands of pounds of damage.

Firefighters, who were called to BonBon’s Day Nursery in Midland Road, Frizinghall, early yesterday, said the building was minutes away from being engulfed in the blaze.

The fire started in a pile of rubbish used by youths as a makeshift den next to the nursery, which is housed in a portable building.

West Yorkshire Fire Service said arson could not be ruled out as being the cause and nursery staff believe the fire could have been avoided if teenage gangs had not been able to congregate in the area at night.

Manager Gaynor Barton said incidents of anti-social behaviour had been repeatedly reported to the police since last Thursday.

She said: “We have been telling the police all week that there’s going to be a fire – I think they were setting fire to paper and things but I kept smelling burning all week.

“So I told the police it is a fire waiting to happen and with it being a portable building it’s going to go up.”

Mrs Barton said she believed two groups of youths were using the area.

Speaking yesterday, she said: “Yesterday there was about ten of them, all different ages from 17 upwards, and then in the evening I think there’s a different group coming back.

“We have been really fortunate this time, but it needs something doing. It can’t go on like this.

“It’s affecting our business, which is not good. We have turned this into a lovely nursery. We have just finished refurbishing it last week and we had a grant from Early Years for £50,000.”

Crews at Shipley and Idle fire stations were called to the nursery at about 4am.

Shipley watch commander Alan Holdsworth said: “The fire was in some rubbish initially but it spread to the nursery and the chipboard floor.

“There was severe smoke logging to the whole of the building but only minor fire damage due to the fact we were called at the time we were – had it been another 30 minutes the building would have been lost.”

A police spokesman said last night: “A report of a fire at a nursery in Midland Road was made to police and at this stage it is believed it was caused by a discarded cigarette.

“Inquiries are ongoing by the police and fire service to establish whether there was any malicious intent or not.

“Officers have received reports from staff at the centre of youths hanging around at the back of the nursery in recent days and have responded on a number of occasions.

“We will also be reviewing CCTV and working with staff there to see what we can do to improve security.”

  • Read the full story in Thursday's T&A