FIREFIGHTERS have this afternoon tackled a fierce blaze in a derelict East Bowling building.

The fire started in the building on Usher Street at 12.30pm, and caused major damage to the building's interior.

Nobody was in the building at the time.

Crews told the Telegraph & Argus that the entire building had been damaged in the fire, the cause of which is now being investigated.

However, it did not spread to any neighbouring properties.

Two crews from Bradford fire station attended, along with one from Odsal, one from Shipley and an aerial appliance that had to be called in from Leeds.

Sections of the building's roof had to be removed so firefighters could target the flames inside.

It took the crews three hours to bring the fire under control, and Usher Street was closed to traffic for much of that time.

The building was built in 1902, and its past uses have included a clinic, restaurant and community centre. It has been empty for several years, and is just a few metres away from Bowling Park Primary School.