INVESTIGATIONS are continuing over the suspected illegal storage of waste tyres at an old go-karting site in Bradford where a major fire broke out earlier today.

The Environment Agency confirmed in July that it had begun a probe into the  site on Spring Mill Street off Manchester Road. It followed reports about a large number of tyres stored there, some of them in bundles.

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Following the fire, which began around 3am this morning, the agency has now confirmed that it is supporting the fire service on site at the moment and that it continues its investigation into the earlier complaints.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “We have responded to an incident of a fire on Spring Mill Street in Bradford and are on site supporting the fire service as part of a multi-agency response to minimise risk to the local community and the environment.

“Our officers are investigating the operators of this site following reports to our Incident Hotline about the suspected illegal storage of waste tyres. There are strict rules governing the storage of waste tyres, which are designed to help prevent fires and to protect people and the environment. Our immediate priority is to support the multi-agency response.”

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One person, who lives nearby and has contacted the Environment Agency over the tyres on the site before, said: "I'm worried for my health, and also unable to go out due to the thick black smoke. We already have lockdown issues this has just made things worse with the smell and the toxins in the air.

"This was predicted to happen with the amount of tyres - nobody took it seriously."

She added that these concerns were raised months ago and she couldn't understand why it had taken so long.

There are a number of rules around waste tyres, which are permitted to be used as crash barriers at karting circuits provided the operator obtains an exemption with the Environment Agency. This allows up to 40 tonnes of waste tyres to be used.

But even with the exemption, tyres cannot be stored in piles exceeding 10 tonnes and must have a gap between each pile as a fire break.

In July the pictures taken by the Telegraph & Argus showed large mounds of bundled tyres as well as piles of loose tyres.

Site owner Jaq Yaqoob, of neighbouring Car Empire, said at the time that a new tenant had agreed to clear the site of tyres.

The site used to be run as a karting venue by OnTrak Community Initiative, a well-respected children's charity which works with 17 local authorities across the UK to help disadvantaged youngsters.

Officials at the charity have vehemently denied having anything to do with the tyres.

In a statement to the T&A the charity said: "OnTrak rented the karting track from Jaq Yaqoob until last year when we sadly had to close the site due to a number of break ins. We have not been on the site for 18 months.

"To add to this, when we left the site, we took EVERYTHING with us that belonged to the charity.

"Any tyres that we used were for the karting barriers as per the NKA legal requirements, and any spare were upcycled by our students and young people to create plant pots, unique tables and chairs.

"Just to make it absolutely clear: OnTrak has nothing to do with any tyres on that site as we removed everything that belonged to us 18 months ago."

The track site was originally a coal yard and is around 2.5 acres in total.