A woman out walking early in the morning alerted firefighters to a blaze in historic Oakworth Mill. A few minutes more and the fire could have taken hold in the disused 19th century textile mill on Mill Lane.

Part of the five-storey building is listed, but the blaze occurred in another part which is scheduled for demolition.

Firemen wearing breathing apparatus went into the mill and discovered a fire in the middle of the floor on the top storey. Leading firefighter Mark Rogerson says: "It had burned through to the floor below and was working its way through to the next one. It looks like the fire had been burning for about 12 hours. It was a smouldering fire that could have got much worse. It looks like it was kids."

Oakworth Mill is set to be transformed into 13 apartments if Bradford council gives planning permission.

Council historians recently urged a rethink on the demolition plans to allow time for archaeological recording.

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