Fire investigators have not yet been able to establish the cause of a blaze that broke out in a Bradford fireworks warehouse.

About two-and-a-half tonnes of fireworks were destroyed at the Mr Fireworks firm in Grattan Road shortly before 5am yesterday.

Crews arrived at the building to find lit fireworks flying out of smashed windows towards the city centre.

The warehouse contained Roman candles, Catherine wheels, fountains, as well as barrage fireworks such as Screaming Demons and Resurrection.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We have been investigating for a whole day and have not been able to establish a cause as yet."

More than 40 firefighters from Bradford, Odsal, Fairweather Green, Odsal and Keighley battled to bring the fire in the two-storey building under control.

Police cordoned off side streets in the area surrounding the building.

Incident commander Keith Robinson, said: "When the crews got here we had fireworks projecting around 100ft into the air, coming straight out of the window towards the city centre.

"It was very dangerous for the firefighters."

He added: "If the fire had got to the adjoining buildings then it would have been a lot more serious but due to the professionalism of the firefighters involved we managed to contain it to a single building.

"The damage is just to one room but it is quite extensive.

"If you imagine 2.5 tonnes of fireworks in your front room all going off together, you would have a very serious incident in your house."

Amanda Chapman, who owns The Sandwich Shop next door to Mr Fireworks, was getting ready for her daughter's 16th birthday party when she heard about the fire.

She said firework deliveries to the warehouse had increased recently because of the approach of bonfire night and Eid.

She said: "As far as I am aware they were all kept in metal containers."

Mrs Chapman said she had been unable to receive bread deliveries early yesterday as the road had been closed off.

Lesley Clayburn, office adminstrator at Adamant Safe and Lock Company which is two doors down from Mr Fireworks, said the inadvertent fireworks display caused by the blaze had been "spectacular".

She said: "The fire affected our warehouse because it backs on to the building and we were not allowed to use it until 1pm.

e-mail: saima.mir@bradford.newsquest.co.uk