ARSONISTS started a fire next to the tracks of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway last night.

Materials including timber and plastic were set alight.

Firefighters from Keighley were called out to deal with the incident, at about 9.30pm.

In addition to a fire engine, a specialist wildfire unit Land Rover also attended.

"We brought in the Land Rover because of access difficulties at the site," said crew commander Dom Creed, of Keighley fire station.

"It was a large fire, covering an area about eight by six metres."

Although passenger services weren't operating at the time, the line was closed whilst firefighters tackled the blaze.

The crew spent around two hours at the scene.