Arsonists are believed to have struck on Ilkley Moor leaving firefighters battling to save the area from a repeat of the 2006 devastation.

Three crews spent two hours tackling the blaze which broke out at about 2.30pm yesterday on three areas of the moor in areas near Cowpasture Road.

At the height of the blaze, smoke drifted for half-a-mile from an area the size of a football field and flames, fanned by high winds, leapt 20 feet into the air.

Ilkley watch manager Alex Watson said: “We suspect this is deliberate because there were three seats of fire.”

He said 15 firefighters fought to put out the fire and dampen down surrounding areas to make sure it did not re-ignite.

He said the work, prevented the fire spreading.

Mr Watson said: “Because we were alerted quickly, we got some water on it immediately and it is not going to spread.”