Firefighters are battling a raging blaze in Leeds city centre

A number of restaurants and pubs were forced to evacuate after a fierce fire tore through a building in Leeds on Saturday night.

Flames engulfed the top three floors of the derelict building on Cookridge Street, near Millennium Square, at around 7.50pm, prompting 10 fire crews to rush to the scene.

Videos and images shared on social media showed the building in flames and smoke billowing into the sky.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said a cordon was in place and nearby buildings were evacuated due to the “potentially dangerous structure” of the building.

“West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is working with West Yorkshire Police and Yorkshire Ambulance Service,” it said in a statement.

“The Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) is also present.”