A DISCARDED match or cigarette may have started a fire which wrecked part of a Guiseley factory complex.

Fire investigators say the fire which destroyed a canteen and storage area at the Wendy Wools factory, Netherfield Road, in the early hours of Wednesday February 13, may have been started by 'smoking materials'.

Fire crews battled for around eight hours to stop the blaze at the Carter and Parker (Wendy Wools) factory, Netherfield Road, in the early hours of Wednesday January 13.

The fire wrecked a canteen and storage building, which was adjacent to the factory's main office building.

A specialist Leeds City Council asbestos unit was called in to clear dust and debris from Netherfield Road, and from the gardens of neighbouring houses, as the roof of the building was believed to have contained asbestos. Fire investigators were called in, and began sifting through the remains of the building, hunting for clues to the fire's cause.

A fire service spokesman said a match or cigarette had been given as a provisional cause, but the investigation had not yet been concluded.

The company's managing director, Austin Ramsden, said : "We have not yet seen the fire brigade report, so we are not 100 per cent sure what the cause was, and as far as I'm aware, nor is the fire brigade. It's still a bit of a mystery."

Mr Ramsden said the company intends to rebuild the destroyed building, possibly at a cost of around £150,000. He said the remaining walls of the ruined building would be demolished later this week, or early next week, to make way for a new building.