Youths are suspected of causing a fire which ripped through a derelict house and brought the ceiling down last night.

Firefighters from Batley and Morley were called to the scene in Burnsall Road, Batley, to discover smoke pouring out of two boarded up, semi-detached properties.

The flames had engulfed both floors of one property and crews forced their way into the neighbouring house to find it heavily smoke logged.

Two pumps, three jets and two breathing apparatus were used to deal with the fire at 7.30pm in a two-and-a-half hour operation.

Kevin Salisbury, watch manager at Batley fire station, said: "We believe youths got in and started a fire on the first floor.

"There have been a few small incidents in the past.

"These buildings are due for demolition and are very dangerous."