SAFETY work at the fire-hit Harris Court Mill is underway.

These pictures were taken at the mill earlier today.

It comes less than a week after a blaze tore through its roof and top floor.

Demetri Elia, from Kayedem Demolition, said the work is to make the building safe and the scene will then be assessed by structural engineers. 

He said: "Our works are solely to ensure the mill is made structurally safe and to avoid the risk of uncontrolled collapse. 

"The mill has been left vacant for a number of years, due to the age of the structure, the weak rotten timber floors, rotten joists, the recent fire damage and the thousands of litres of water which has been sprayed onto the structure to put out the fire, have all been factors which have contributed to the collapse of the inner floors.

"The two gable ends of the mill were tied into the roof trusses, however these trusses, which were acting as a lateral support to the gables, have been damaged beyond repair, which has resulted in both gable ends being totally freestanding and actually leaning outwards."

He added: "These gables are within a couple of metres of neighbouring properties which has resulted in our operatives having to physically demolish these elevations by hand by use of mobile platforms."

Mr Elia said the works are still ongoing and the findings are not yet conclusive.

More than 50 firefighters and more than ten fire engines were deployed to Great Horton Road on Tuesday evening to fight the blaze, which had taken hold in the mill's 80 metre-long roof.

After an hour fighting the fire from cranes, firefighters managed to get the blaze under control, and finally left the scene 21 hours later on Wednesday afternoon.

On Wednesday, Peter McIlvenny, managing director of neighbouring business Whaley's, said "enough is enough" and demanded the building be torn down immediately.

In the aftermath of the fire, Bradford Council said the owner must make the building safe.

A spokesperson said last week: “Work needs to be undertaken by the owner to make the building safe.

“We will be checking to make sure this work is carried out. The future of the building is currently uncertain and the owners are considering the matter.

“Any future outcome for the building will require planning consent. The building is in a conservation area and this will need to be addressed as part of any planning application.”

Harris Court Mills has stood empty for more than ten years, following the Yorkshire Envelope Company moving out, and has fallen into a sorry state of disrepair since.