VANDALS and arsonists are targetting an historic mill - with four fires at the site this year.

This week developers described how they were struggling to keep determined trespassers out of the Naylor Jennings site, in Yeadon, despite doing everything they can to keep the listed building secure.

Now there are warnings the mill may not survive to be part of the planned Yelcon Homes housing development.

Firefighters battled a blaze at the former mill on Green Lane in the early hours of Sunday morning - struggling to access the building because of security measures to keep out intruders.

Crew commander Ian Rawsthorne, of Rawdon station, said: "We had to cut through metal gates to get into the yard, but it had been blocked up by a wall, so we had to use ladders to get over it and go through the windows to fight the fire. We also smashed a door to get inside."

Mr Rawsthorne said it was the fourth fire at the mill they had attended this year and in the past they had found youngsters smoking cannabis there. He said local youths were getting in and setting fires.

Yesterday the site's Construction Director Steve Edwards said: "It is just an absolute nightmare but are doing everything we can. Trespassing on that site has been a major problem for us. We do regular inspections and we have taken every measure possible to secure the site."

Guiseley and Rawdon councillor Graham Larry said: "This is what we fear most, that the mill, which is to be preserved in the development and which has been given planning permission for housing, might not survive until development actually starts."