Blaze destroys derelict church

The West Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service inquiry began after fire gutted St Mary's in the Wood Church in Morley, Leeds, in the early hours of Saturday.

As fire ripped through the building, about 20 people living near the historic church in Queen Street had to be moved from their homes because of fears that the steeple might collapse.

The residents were initially taken to a nearby Morrisons supermarket after Leeds City Council's emergency planning office was called in, but many later moved to the homes of friends and relatives.

About 50 firefighters battled the blaze for several hours to bring the fire under control and reduce the risk of the building collapsing after emergency services were alerted at about 2.30am.

A joint statement from West Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "The fire has caused serious and significant damage to the church, and work will be carried out to prevent the building collapsing and establish whether or not it can be saved."

Yesterday, a blackened shell was all that remained of the church which was built in 1878.

Campaigners thought they had stopped the development but recently learned it was being reconsidered.