Early indications suggest a fire at one of Bradford’s most prominent old mill buildings was deliberate, police say.

Fire crews were called to the derelict Barkerend Mills, which sits on the outskirts of Bradford city centre, at 7.25pm on Friday, July 22.

The fire was between the third and fourth floors of the five-storey building. 

Two people were evacuated from the building and are not thought to have suffered any injuries.

In the latest statement, a spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: “Emergency services were called to derelict building on Barkerend Road, Bradford, shortly after 7.25pm last night.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

“Officers are in the process of establishing what happened but early indications are that the fire was started deliberately.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call West Yorkshire Police on 101 or use the live chat via www.westyorkshire.police.uk/101livechat

The reference number for this incident is 1595 of 22/7.

Barkerend Road was cordoned off for most of Friday evening.

Eight fire engines and an aerial appliance were initially called to the scene, but that has now been scaled back to five. 

A large jet was used to bring the fire under control. 

One onlooker said: "There was a lot of fire engines and ambulances next to Lidl."

History of Barkerend Mills

Barkerend Mills was built in the 1870s, and at its height employed more than 400 people, when it was one of Bradford’s leading worsted spinning mills. It’s thought it was designed by Bradford-based architects Milnes and France and was built to be fireproof.

The surviving mill was part of a much larger collection of industrial buildings, many of which were demolished in the 1990s.