The owner of a Keighley fish and chip restaurant extensively damaged in a blaze has vowed that the business will rise from the ashes.

Steve Adkin said it could be months rather than weeks, but the premises would reopen.

He was speaking yesterday after seeing for the first time the extent of the damage inside Wilsons Fish Restaurant, in Lawkholme Lane.

“It is very badly damaged – equipment and fittings – and there is going to be a lot of work sorting it out, but I fully intend getting the place back up and running again,” he said.

The fire broke out in a cooking range and spread through a flue to the upper floor.

Staff raised the alarm and safely evacuated the building when the blaze erupted, at 4.40pm on Tuesday.

Two crews from Keighley Fire Station attended initially, but other appliances were brought in from Bingley, Shipley and Silsden, plus an aerial platform from Bradford.

Fire crews remained at the scene well into the evening.

* For full report see today's T&A.