A FACTORY fire which sent plumes of smoke into the sky was caused by an oven, emergency services say.

Keighley firefighters were among crews from across West Yorkshire who tackled yesterday's blaze at the abattoir, in Half Acre Road, Denholme.

The oven was used for burning animal waste, leaving firefighters tinged with an “awful” smell.

Other crews which attended included Fairweather Green, Illingworth, Bingley, Halifax, Rastrick, Stanningley, Pontefract, Bradford, Killingbeck, Huddersfield, Skelmanthorpe and Otley.

Local Robin Naylor was walking his dog when he saw a “huge orange and brown plume of smoke rising into the air”.

He said: “It quickly spread over Denholme. The first fire engine arrived shortly afterwards.”