'Shock' as crews battle to get Bradford fire under control

"I saw the smoke and noticed the helicopter flying overhead," said West Bowling resident Simon Bailey. "The fire looks very dramatic."

Local resident Talha Mohammed said: "From my window this morning I could see smoke everywhere. It was coming over the BD5 area."

Firefighters are enveloped in smoke while battling a major fire at an old go-kart site in East Bowling

One local resident who lives near Manchester Road saw the fire and smoke when she first woke up this morning.

The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: "That's one thing you don't want to see when you first open your eyes. I don't like it when things like this happen."

READ MORE: Investigations continue over storage of waste tyres at site of major Bradford fire

Another man, who also wanted to remain anonymous, was also watching on from Manchester Road just before midday.

He said: "I've never seen anything like it. It's unbelievable as they certainly can't seem to get it under control - and they've been at it for a good few hours.

A major fire at an old go-kart site in East Bowling burns on into the afternoon

He was grateful to the firefighters, saying: "They're risking their lives doing that."

He also worried about the effect the fire would have on businesses nearby.

Farahad Hassan, owner of H2O Car Wash on Mill Lane, said: "I was worried about it, but we aren't able to open anyway because of the lockdown.

Mr Hussan said his business premises have been used by the firefighters to battle the blaze.

Firefighters continue to tackle the blaze at an old go-kart site in East Bowling

"They came into my business and set up inside the car park."

Muhammed Ali, another employee who works for H20 Car Wash, added: "I was a bit shocked when I saw it. It doesn't seem like it's close enough to affect the car wash, but I'm still very worried because I don't know if they can get it under control."

"I was coming into town on the bus and I saw the fire from Odsal Top," said Wyke resident Kevin Rolls, who works for First Bus in Bradford. "When I saw all the smoke, I was worried because it was so close to the bus depot."

Julian Terry, a Manningham resident who was walking along Manchester Road, spoke about how upsetting it was to see the fire.

Smoke continues to rise above Bradford this afternoon

"It's very upsetting. I've hated fires ever since the Grenfell fire disaster in London."

"I have a friend who lives in the flats off Manchester Road, and every time I see a fire I think of her.

"I live in a block of flats now and it upsets me. When I used to live in a block of flats in Leeds, there was a fire that completely burnt out one of the six flats on my floor. It was quite frightening.

"This fire also looks like it's got worse in the last half hour of watching it. It looks as though it's not having an effect and the firefighters have had to pull back a bit."