A stand-off by police lasting ten hours turned into a search late last night after two young men who got on to the roof of a Keighley house slipped away in the darkness.

Police had cordoned off the neighbourhood around Redcliffe Street, Highfield, as trained negotiators tried to coax the pair into giving themselves up after they had earlier hurled slates into the street.

Crowds had gathered to watch as the two white males, believed to be in their late teens, moved between the rooftop and the inside of the house after the stand-off began at about 11am yesterday.

Police finally moved into the house at about 9.15pm to find the pair had disappeared.

The West Yorkshire Police helicopter was then brought in to search the area.

Inspector Paul Clynch, who is overseeing the incident, said last night: “We went in the premises and they ran on to the rooftops.

“The police helicopter has been used to check the rooftops but we believe they have found another way down.”

Among the onlookers were residents of Redcliffe Street who were not able to get to their homes for some hours because of the cordon.

One, Amjid Ali Khan, who said he owned the property at the centre of the incident, described the pair as being his tenants for about seven months.

“This all started at about 11 o’clock,” he said. “They have been asking for a McDonald’s, and they’ve been throwing slates.

“I’ve been out here since 11 and I’m frozen.”

Another onlooker, who asked not to be identified, said: “It’s mad. I don’t know what those guys think they’re doing.

“They must think it’s funny but if one of them falls off they won’t be laughing.

“I asked the police how it all started but they didn’t tell me much.”

Salim Hussain, 41, said: “I live in Lawkholme but I’ve got family here, I’ve only come round to visit them. I can understand that the police need to be a bit careful – but these two lads are causing a lot of trouble for people. I heard they’ve been chucking stuff from the roof, which is obviously pretty stupid.”

Ali Mahmood, owner of the Madinah Food Store, said he also understood that the young men had been throwing slates.

Doreen Richardson, 55, of Highfield Lane, said: “I’d only popped round to see a friend in Drewry Road when I saw all this going on.

“It’s shocking. There’s a couple of guys trying to talk them down but they’re not having much success.

“You’d think the cold would have forced them down by now, but I guess they just don’t care.”

About 15 police officers were involved in the stand-off.

An ambulance was also in standby in Drewry Road.

One large group of male youths, who gathered in nearby Drewry Road, cheered as a firework was thrown into the street at about 7pm.