A rookie firefighter who was on his first day's duty with Keighley's Blue Watch has been praised for his actions when he was called to an horrific death blaze.

Trainee firefighter John Hodgson was among fire officers who frantically searched the flaming four-bedroom flat, through thick black smoke, in the hunt for a trapped toddler.

The girl, thought to be about three years old, was recovered by firefighters from a bed in the front bedroom of a flat, in Bridge Street, Keighley. The family who are thought to have lived in the flat for about six months, are believed to come from Malawi, southern Africa.

Fire station commanding officer Philip Troake said Firefighter Hodgson did remarkably well.

He added: "It just goes to show the level of training the firefighters receive. It puts them in good stead for incidents like Monday's.

"It was quite an horrific incident to attend but John coped very well."

Crowds gathered outside the flat, which is above a second-hand furniture shop, as the two fire crews fought back flames leaping from upper floor windows.

Ambulance crews treated two people for smoke inhalation at the scene and neighbours were evacuated.

Mr Troake said: "It was a difficult job. It was hard to see through the thick black smoke and it was very hot. We found the body of the child, who was approximately three years old, in the front bedroom."

The girl's parents and three other children, including a baby, fled to safety when the fire started.

Shop assistant Dale Turner was in the ground floor shop when the fire started. He dashed into the burning building in an attempt to find the girl but was forced back by the severity of the blaze.

Mr Turner, of Rydal Street, said: "I ran around the back and banged on the door and two people ran out. A woman was carrying a child and said 'my baby is upstairs'.

"I know the layout of the flat, so I ran upstairs and into the first bedroom. There was black smoke and I could hardly see anything but there was nobody in that room.

"The window at the front had blown out and there was smoke and flames coming down the landing from the other room. The door was shut.

"There was no way you could get in that room. If I had opened the door I would have been burned."

Next door neighbour Brian Paul said: "It's terrible. They are a nice family. I spoke to them every so often but they tended to keep to themselves."

Fire investigation officer Ian Purcell said it would take several days before the cause could be discovered because of the extensive damage.

West Yorkshire Police said the fire was not being treated as suspicious but an inquiry into the incident was on-going. Det Insp Shaun Berry said: "We are working with the family, who are obviously devastated, to try to determine the cause of the fire. They will not be subject to a criminal investigation."

Anybody who saw anything significant prior to the fire starting should call Keighley police on 01535 617059.

Coroner's officer Les Scaife said an inquest could be opened in the next few days to allow for a formal identification of the girl.

Firefighters visited neighbouring flats and houses to offer fire safety advice and free smoke alarm installation.

Anyone concerned about fire safety in their building should call Keighley Fire Station on 01535 607401.