More than 50 firefighters tackled a blaze which ripped through a Bradford lingerie factory today.

A police patrol raised the alarm shortly after 5am when they spotted flames at Marsylka Manufacturing Co Limited in Bolling Road.

Two fire engines from Bradford fire station in Nelson Street and one from Odsal were first sent to the scene.

As the scale of the fire became apparent they were joined by another engine from Odsal and fire crews from Fairweather Green, Shipley, Idle, Cleckheaton and Brighouse.

The single-storey building containing a workroom was destroyed but firefighters managed to stop the blaze spreading to a two-storey building next to it.

Bradford Station Officer Phillip Whitaker said flames were rising from the roof and out of the window when the crews arrived.

He said: "The single-storey block has got a multi-pitched roof with bitumen on one side and windows on the other to let light into the factory. The side that isn't glass was felt and bitumen, so the fire quickly spread right across the factory."

The factory is owned by Christopher Hainsworth who set up the business in the 1930s.

His eldest son Robert said he had been told about the fire at about 5.15am.

"The workroom is gutted.," he said. "The sewing machines have been destroyed and work in progress and raw materials have all been damaged by smoke."

The business would have to look for other premises as soon as possible, he added.

Evelyn Lambert who has worked at the factory for four years said: "There's a lot of personal things that everybody has in there. It's going to be very hard as a lot of people have worked there for years."

Fire investigation officers were due to inspect the scene later today.

Mr Whitaker said it was too early to say what may have caused the fire.