Blaze firm stays in business

Airedale Springs, which makes springs and pressings, lost its production facilities when the blaze tore through Ebor Mills in Ebor Lane, Haworth, on Saturday night.

The cause of the blaze was still being investigated yesterday as work began to demolish the building.

Airedale Springs' commercial director Sean Parkinson said last night: "We are still functioning as a company and it is our intention to service the needs of our current customers now and in the future.

"We will be calling upon the aid of our suppliers and people in the trade who have been very helpful in offering assistance."

Mr Parkinson said the company's offices have not been affected but could not be accessed because of the demolition work.

The firm, which employs around 44 people, has set up temporary offices at the Masonic Lodge in Haworth.

Station manager Richard Cock, of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "This was a severe fire and firefighters worked extremely hard in very difficult conditions to stop it spreading to an adjoining office complex and nearby buildings."

At its height, more than 70 firefighters tackled the blaze and crews remained at the site over the weekend to cool acetylene cylinders.

A West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said that the building was fitted with a sprinkler system but there was no sign it had been activated.