POLICE and fire chiefs have vowed to do all in their power to catch "reckless" yobs who brought violence and destruction to the streets of Keighley on Bonfire Night.

The "abhorrent" scenes across the town included an attack on a family by a stone-throwing gang that left a baby injured, an incident where 30 youths barricaded a street and hurled missiles which smashed a fire engine windscreen, and an attack that led to Keighley Fire Station itself being shut down as crews were forced to relocate to the town's police station.

Kim Ager's one-year-old son Ryland sustained a black eye after a gang of yobs approached them in Lund Park, with one throwing a stone that landed in his pram.

Miss Ager's 15-year-old-daughter Megan was also struck on her leg and had a laser pen shone into her eyes during the attack at 6pm.

She said her nine-year-old son Callum, who is having chemotherapy for neuroblastoma, was sobbing distraught as the family fled to their home in nearby Hardwick Street.

Miss Ager said Keighley felt like a war-zone, adding: "There were fires burning in streets all around us, fireworks going off in tiny yards everywhere."

Miss Ager dialled 999 at about 6.30pm when they got home and was told police would be with her within the hour, but officers did not come to the house until 11.30pm, she said.

"The gang was still hanging about for a couple of hours after it happened. If police had come quicker they would have caught them," said the 33-year-old.

Inspector Sue Sanderson, who leads the Keighley Area Neighbourhood Team, said officers who had been on their way to Miss Ager's home were diverted to a road traffic collision where debris was reported on the road and called her later to speak with her in more detail the next day.

Meanwhile fire chiefs, who have met with local councillors and police, have slammed the actions of other youths who targeted firefighting crews in Keighley later that night in a string of attacks, including one on the fire station itself.

Just before 11pm, fire chiefs had to put an emergency plan into place, shutting down the fire station and moving the Keighley crews and appliances to the police station along with the Silsden retained crew while police guarded the fire station. Fire crews were then escorted out on other jobs throughout the night until the tensions eased.

Another incident saw 30 youths barricade Belgrave Road, set a fire and and hurl missiles which smashed a fire engine windscreen causing thousands of pounds of damage and taking it off the road.

Area Manager for Fire Safety Ian Bitcon said: “We completely condemn these abhorrent actions which put our firefighters in jeopardy.

“Not only that but the Haworth engine had to be temporarily taken off the run on the fire service's busiest night of the year due to a broken windscreen which costs in the region of £2,000 to buy and fit."

Insp Sanderson said: "Police are working alongside the fire service to identify those involved in this disturbance and will use whatever legislation is available to bring them to account for their actions."

The crews will be providing silent witness CCTV footage from the appliances to help catch those responsible.