The blaze which ripped through a food processing factory in Bradford was as devastating as it was dramatic.

At its height, a massive plume of smoke rose from the site and flames shot 100 feet up into the sky.

More than 50 firefighters from across West Yorkshire battled the inferno in freezing conditions – having had to contend with treacherous roads to get to the fire in the first place.

Without their valiant efforts the devastation would have been much more widespread.

They did a magnificent job, saving around four-fifths of the factory, but the blaze still caused hundreds of thousands of pounds’ worth of damage, according to police.

That is a terrible blow for any firm to have to deal with – and it must be all the more sickening for the company and its employees to hear that that the fire was started deliberately, as was initially suspected.

The arsonists put the lives of the public and the firefighters at risk and also jeopardised the livelihoods of those who work at the site.

Such behaviour is beyond comprehension and those responsible deserve nothing but our contempt.

The contrast between them and the firefighters who tackled the flames with courage, professionalism and selflessness could not be greater.