Fire in Bradford: what happened in East Bowling - and which roads and schools are closed?

Schools have been closed and public transport disrupted after a huge fire broke out near the centre of Bradford.

There are no reports of casualties as a result of the fire in the East Bowling area of the city.

Bronte Girls Academy and Dixons City Academy are among the schools forced to shut as a result of the closure, which has also seen parts of Manchester Road closed.

A spokesman for Bradford Council said: “Due to the large amount of smoke, we’re continuing to advise all residents to the east of the incident – East Bowling – to keep windows and doors shut.

“We’re also asking people to please avoid travelling through this area.

“All persons are accounted for.”

What happened?

The fire is believed to have started at roughly 4.30am on Monday morning at a go-kart track on Upper Castle Street.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said 15 fire engines from across the county and two aerial platforms had been deployed at the scene, about a mile south of the city centre, by 5am on Monday.

Northern Rail explained that the fire put rail equipment at risk.

A spokesperson said: "A large fire at a go-kart track next to the railway at Bradford Interchange is on fire. Around 8,000 tyres and railway equipment are at risk from the fire which is around 50m from the railway."

At 9am 100 Firefighters and officers were tackling the blaze

Disruption to public transport

A number of key roads in close proximity to the site have been closed as a result of the blaze

These roads are: Upper Castle Street, Ripley Street, the junction of Manchester Road and Mill Lane, Spring Mill Street Junction at the junction with Palmer Street and Bolling Road.

“Due to a fire on property near the railway at Bradford Interchange all lines are blocked.

“Train services running through this station have been cancelled or diverted. Disruption is expected until 9am.”

The station have since said that disruption is expected until the end of the day. Road replacement services are now in place between Leeds and Halifax.

Any replacement transport will call at Bradford Forster Square and not Bradford Interchange

School closures

Following advice from the Bradford Fire Service three schools in the city have been forced to close.

These are: Bronte Girls Academy, Rainbow Primary and Dixons City Academy.

Advice for Bradford and Leeds residents

Citizens in the local area have been asked to keep their windows and doors shut due to a toxic plume of smoke emanating from the fire.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service have asked “all local residents” to keep windows and doors closed.

Leeds Emergency tweeted: “Areas of South Pudsey, Farnley Hall and Bramley are affected by the smoke plume. Local residents should please keep windows and doors closed and keep updated”

.