WE wish to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to the West Yorkshire Fire Service and the fire crews from further afield, in dealing with the incident on Ilkley Moor over the Easter weekend.

As the fire spread on Saturday we had to evacuate White Wells at about 6pm and wait at the control base set up in the car park at the bottom of the access track. We could see the fire coming to within 200m of White Wells. We were anxious but not frightened, as we had every confidence in the Fire Service to do the job they are trained to do, with the resources available to them, and that the situation would be contained. Consequently we were able to return to our home at around 10pm, while fire crews remained on the moor all night.

We also wish to thank everyone for their messages of concern about ourselves and White Wells, and thank friends and the lady from Wells Road for your offers of hospitality on Saturday evening. We have been greatly touched by your kindness.

On Easter Sunday and Monday we respected the request made by the Fire Service not to open our cafe, in the hope of deterring crowds of onlookers and in case of flare-ups of fire requiring us to evacuate ourselves from White Wells again. (It was more than a little frustrating then to be closed while potential customers strolled around the moor, walked dogs, children, pushcahirs or rode bikes.)

The fire crews have been working in shifts around the clock doing an exemplary job, and may continue a presence for the next day or so, damping down the moor during daylight and keeping watch at night - though they have been stretched further by another fire on Marsden Moor. Highlighting the apparently not so obvious hazards of camping or barbecues on dry moorland.

We understand arrests have been made in connection with a second fire on Ilkley Moor on Saturday evening, started while fire crews were already dealing with the first incident. It simply beggars belief as to the mindset of those who would do such a thing.

Thank you to everyone,

Mark Hunnebell & Joanne Everall,

(Still) White Wells Tenants.