People in Mirfield are calling for an increased police presence following an arson attack on a disused print shop.

Signs and furniture belonging to estate agent Dougy Sykes were damaged when water used to put out a fire in the premises above his storehouse seeped through the ceiling.

He said the print shop had been used as a drinking den by youths for two weeks before fire destroyed the flat on Thursday.

And other traders and churches in the area have also complained about being plagued by vandals and youths.

Mr Sykes, of Mirfield Estates, said: "There's been a problem with kids hanging about for a long time but it's got much more serious.

"The firemen did a brilliant job in containing the fire, I just wish the police in Mirfield were so effective. We need regular patrols so the police can get to know who these kids are and tackle the problem. And the parents of these kids should ask themselves where their children are every night."

Firefighters from Dewsbury were called in to help Mirfield firemen tackle the blaze in Newgate.

The upper floor was completely gutted and the fire took six hours to damp down.

Mr Sykes said two 14-year-old girls were seen leaving the building by a passer-by just minutes before the fire broke out.

Sub-officer Steve Bowers of Mirfield Fire Station said a large group of children were watching the fire when firefighters arrived.

He said: "It's common for the perpetrators of a fire to hang around so they can see the fire service arrive.

"The fire has been recorded as a malicious ignition. We think it was started by someone setting a bin liner of paper alight and it could have been smouldering for a couple of hours before it went up."

Mark Jennings, caretaker of nearby St Paul's Church, said the church was also regularly vandalised and had been a meeting point for teenagers before security was stepped up.

He said: "We've had to cover up the stained glass windows because they were getting smashed and we now have a burglar alarm which is linked straight to the police.

And Brian Page, co-director of Newgate Garage in Newgate, said his premises and the next-door Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall had suffered smashed windows during the last month.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said Mirfield had 24-hour police cover from officers in the Dewsbury division plus its own dedicated policing team.

She said: "Officers are happy to speak to anyone who has any problems and Inspector Simon Spencer can be contacted through the Dewsbury help-desk on (01924) 431059."

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