AROUND 60 firefighters have been tackling a blaze at a toy factory near Bradford city centre this morning - the second fire at the site in a month.

Bradford Station Commander Ronnie Goldwater said it was the volume of emergency calls made to the control centre in the early stages which promted the Service to deploy so many appliances early.

A total of 15 crews from across the Bradford district, including Odsal, Shipley and Bradford, and from as far away as Pontefract, Huddersfield and Raistrick tackled the blaze at Simba Smoby Toys, Broomfield House, in Hall Lane at just after 5.10am today.

Two aerial appliances were also used in the incident, which was contained to the loading bay/warehouse area of the site.

The cause of the fire is unknown but a fire investigation team is at the scene.

Residents on Hall Lane were advised to shut their windows and doors but no-one was evacuated after the fire broke out in a single storey building used for storage of toys.

Damian Brown, group commander of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The fire was coming through the roof when we got here.

"It was a large developing fire.

"It was difficult conditions inside for the fire crews, it was very dark.

"No-one was in the building at the time."

Mr Goldwater added: "Our main concern was to stop the fire spreading. 

"Twenty per cent of the building was involved when we first got there and of that, 100 per cent was involved. 

"We were able to use specialist appliances to connect to mains water supplies and bring water to the fire. We also used hydrants and special underground tanks which are dotted around Bradford which we keep filled with water. They are really beneficial for this sort of incident. 

"We wouldn't be able to tackle such large fires without these.

"We had to send in firefighters with breathing apparatus and large hoses to deal with the blaze and they all did a great job.

"We also had to evacuate a nearby building to start with for fear of the fire spreading, but the people were allowed back in later.

"We advised local properties to keep their doors and windows closed too.

"Our response was terrific. We had the fire under control within two hours and were able to save three quarters of the business despite part of the building collapsing."

Mr Goldwater added that the Service would be keeping an eye on the building for the next couple of days. 

Representatives from Northern Gas Networks and Northern Powergrid were also at the scene.

No-one from Simba Smoby Toys, who were at the scene, wished to comment on the fire.

It is the second time in a month the site has been affected by a major fire after its toy warehouse section, on Bolling Road, saw 70 fire fighters tackle that blaze on July 3.

The site makes products for Smoby, which is France's largest toy manufacturer, and is part of the Simba Dickie Group. It makes toys including children's playhouses and slides.