THE bandstand at Cliffe Castle Park has been badly damaged in a suspected arson attack.

A crew from Keighley fire station was called out at about 5.50am today after flames were spotted coming from the structure.

Because of difficulties accessing the park – off Spring Gardens Lane, in Keighley – with the fire engine, the crew initially used buckets of water to tackle the blaze.

The fire extensively damaged the wooden floor of the bandstand.

"Fortunately much of the bandstand is stone but the floorboards were burned through," said a fire service spokesperson.

Firefighters had the blaze under control within about ten minutes and spent around an hour at the scene.

The fire is being treated as suspicious and police are investigating.