TRIALS have been halted and Bradford Crown Court staff ordered to evacuate due to "smoke problems" in the building from the ongoing tyre fire.

A message was sent to the courts at around 12.15pm telling judges to halt proceedings and for the building to be evacuated.

A message from Judge Richard Mansell QC, the Recorder of Bradford, was circulated to the court staff shortly after midday.

It said: "Due to smoke problems, a decision has been made by Judge Mansell to close the court for the day.

"Hearings must be stopped and the building evacuated."

Staff said there was a problem with "free flowing air" in the building. Some staff have also not been able to immediately evacuate due to cases just finishing and necessary paperwork needing to be completed.

The Ministry of Justice has confirmed to the Telegraph & Argus that this was due to smoke coming from the ongoing tyre fire in Spring Mill Street blowing across the city centre.

The fire has been going since the early hours of Monday, with dozens of firefighters still in attendance.

Any cases on today's court list which have yet to be heard have been postponed.