FIRE crews from Keighley and Skipton were called to a Cross Hills stairlift maker this morning after a machine began smouldering.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus dealt with the incident at Platinum Stairlifts, which involved the extraction unit of a laser cutter.

Matthew Marshall, chief commercial officer for Platinum Stairlift, said the smouldering set off a smoke detector, and a member of staff called the Fire Service.

He said precautions were taken because welding equipment was nearby.

Mr Marshall added: “The fire crew stayed until about 10.50am then we were operational again. Nobody was injured.”

A spokesman for Keighley Fire Station said workers had evacuated the building by the time crews arrived after being alerted about 10am.

He said: “There were a lot of hazardous materials in the premises but we got there quite quickly."