Firefighters have raised more than £25,000 to rescue a statue which honours their fallen colleagues.

The ornate memorial was built at Scholemoor Cemetery, Bradford, at the graves of six firefighters who died at a chemical explosion in Low Moor in 1916.

But it was badly vandalised and fire chiefs started a campaign to relocate the monument to a safer and more prominent position.

It has now been moved to its new home at brigade headquarters in Birkenshaw and has been restored to its former glory.

"The campaign to save the Scholemoor statue from falling into total disrepair galvanised the whole West Yorkshire brigade," said West Yorkshire Deputy Chief Fire Officer Kevin Arbuthnot.

Renovations were also carried out to the graves at Scholemoor as part of the project which they planned to complete in time for September 11 last year.

"We had hoped to complete the move much earlier but so many organisations from Bradford Council to planning authorities and diocesan bodies had to grant their support that the timescale slipped," said Mr Arbuthnot.

"However, what matters, is that the firefighters' memories will be better honoured by the new prominence and location of their well-deserved monument, and that the brigade will have a focus for future remembrance ceremonies,"

The fund-raising target was met with a host of events including Senior Divisional Officer Paul Daly's 274-mile sponsored cycle ride round all 50 stations in West Yorkshire.

Firefighters also completed a 33-mile walk called the Haworth Hobble and new recruits donated £342 after fundraising during their training course.

Bradford Councillor Tony Niland (Lab, Bowling), a member of West Yorkshire Fire Authority, congratulated the firefighters on their successful fund-raising campaign. "It shows the way they work as one unit," he said.

Altogether 39 men died when the blast ripped through the Low Moor chemical works on August 21, 1916.

A rededication ceremony is planned.