Firefighters prevented flames spreading through a row of shops in Idle after a blaze earlier this morning.

The fire started in Quality Cleaning on Highfield Road shortly after 7am, and crews from Bradford, Shipley, Idle and Rawdon rushed to the scene, as did an aerial unit from Bradford.

The fire had started in the ground floor launderette, and as well as tackling the fire, crews searched an upstairs apartment for anyone who might be trapped. A family living above the business had evacuated the building shortly after the fire started.

The building was part of a row of ground floor businesses with flats above them, and the fire was brought under control before it could spread to other buildings, although smoke did seep into these neighbouring properties.

Firefighters took around 45 minutes to extinguish the fire, and Highfield road was closed due to the thick smoke emanating from the building.

It re-opened shortly after 8am. Firefighters are still on the scene dampening the building down and investigating what caused the fire.