DON’T be alarmed by the sight of firefighters and engines pulling up to the empty high rises at Crosley Wood this week as search and rescue training continues.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service will be put through their paces with vital training for high-rise incident procedures in the Bingley tower blocks.

The housing provider Incommunities owns three tower blocks on the site, which overlooks the Leeds Liverpool Canal, and plans to demolish the buildings to make way for a new housing development.

Fire crews from across the district will get the rare opportunity to train in a realistic environment - an experience that is particularly poignant after the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

It's the second round of training to take place in the now vacant flats with firefighters taking over Brunswick House at the end of August.

Bradford District Commander, Ben Bush from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We are delighted that Incommunities are supporting our district training strategy by providing us access to this empty building.

"These type of buildings give us opportunity to provide a realistic training environment for Bradford fire crews and robustly test our equipment and procedure for incidents such as a high rise building fire."

Training began on Tuesday from 7.30pm.

While both yesterday's morning and afternoon sessions were cancelled.

The remaining sessions will take place today at 10am and continue at 2.30pm.

Angela Perry, Incommunities’ Assistant Chief Executive, Asset Management said: "We are delighted to make the building available to the fire service and have been liaising closely with them on the arrangements for their exercise.

"The three blocks – Brunswick House, Adelaide House and Peel House – are scheduled for demolition ahead of our exciting redevelopment plans and whilst they are empty it makes good sense to give the local Blue Watch the opportunity to make us of the site.

"We are committed to working with our colleagues from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to continually ensure the safety of our communities.

"Exercises like this show the importance of preparedness and the safety procedures in place across all our high and low rise properties."

Once demolished, Incommunities hopes to redevelop the site with 93 homes.