People were evacuated from their homes amid fears of a gas explosion when fire ripped through a Bradford bakery on Saturday night.

The blaze broke out at 6.40pm at Kashmir Crown Bakeries in Oxley Street, Manningham.

Five workers were frying Bombay Mix in the building at the time but they managed to escape safely.

Police and firefighters evacuated people living nearby as well as workers at the Yorkshire Cottage Bakery, which is next door in Worthington Street, after a ruptured gas pipe caught fire.

Fifty firefighters from across West Yorkshire fought for two-and-a-half hours to control the blaze, which had spread through the first and second floor.

Bradford fire station crew manager Rob Whittaker said: "When we got there, there was smoke and flames coming out of the roof.

"It was obvious that we would need back-up. Ten foot high flames were licking from the roof. The roof did not cave in otherwise they would have been much bigger. They were shooting out through the roof lights. We managed to confine it to the main bakery and prevent it spreading to the storage."

Police sealed-off City Road through the night, but it was reopened yesterday morning. Firemen were still damping down the building yesterday and checking for hot-spots.

Resident Pamela Muff, 55, who lives in flats on Worthington Street, opposite the site, said: "There was lots of people and I was shocked to see a helicopter. They'd closed off the street but you could really smell the smoke."

Asim Saleem, managing partner of Kashmir Crown Bakeries, said the damage would have a serious impact on the business, especially its development in Europe. The company's UK turnover was £4.8 million last year.

But he said: "We have to carry on and move along. We hope to get up and running as soon as possible."

Mr Saleem, who was one of four finalists in the Entrepreneur Excellence Award this year, said there would be no job cuts from his 110 staff across Bradford. The company has two other Bradford factories, at Lilycroft Road and Worthington Street, where sweets and bakery goods are made.

Sergeant Ryan Bragg, of Bradford police, said: "The fire is not being treated suspiciously. We believe it was due to oil over-heating in a commercial fire. A number of people were evacuated after fear of an explosion and roads were sealed off."