A LARGE fire completely destroyed the roof of a building in Wilsden.

At the height of the blaze yesterday afternoon (Jan 26) six fire crews were present at the barn in Back Lane.

The crews were first called at 1.46pm to the incident in Gazeby Hall.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews used four large hose reels to fight the fire.

He added that Back Lane, Wilsden, was closed while the crews battled the flames, noting that appliances from Fairweather Green, Shipley, Illingworth, Bingley, Bradford and Mirfield were present.

The stone-built, derelict barn was well alight by the time the fire crews arrived and the fire fighters were still at the scene hours later, damping down the wreckage.

The spokesman for the fire service said: "The barn was 100 per cent involved in fire. Our firefighters worked hard to bring the blaze under control in freezing conditions. By 3pm the fire was under control."

"Attendance was reduced to two fire engines shortly after 5pm, and by 7pm one fire engine remained in attendance.

"Re-visits to the site were carried out at midnight, and at 4am and 8am today. (Jan 27)

"There were no animals or vehicles inside the barn. Unfortunately the roof has been lost and only the stone walls of the barn remain.

"The fire was contained to the barn and did not spread elsewhere. A cause has not been established yet."

One onlooker said: "It was obviously a major fire and the smoke could be seen from quite a distance away."

He added that he thought buildings at Gazeby Hall were historic, but said the site was disused.