AN ambitious project to use drones to help fight fires in Bradford is a long term one and "not likely to be delivered in the next year."

Earlier this year it was announced that Bradford would be taking part in a groundbreaking project, funded by Nesta, to see how drones can be used to shape public services.

In Bradford the project would see Bradford Council working with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. Two drones based in the city would be dispatched to scenes of fires, giving crews a chance to view the situation before they arrive at the scene.

At a meeting of West Yorkshire Fire Authority on Friday, Dave Walton, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, said: "This project is highly conceptual, it is not going to happen in the next year. But in the distant future there is the potential to use these drones, and it could have all sorts of benefits."

He said the main issue the service would need to overcome was the fact that it is currently against the law for a drone to go out of sight of the pilot."