A suspected cannabis farm set up in the roof space of an apartment is believed to have caused an intense fire at a block of flats.

More than a dozen residents, some clutching babies, fled their homes when flames took hold in the roof of Menston House, a block of 12 newly-constructed flats in High Royds Drive, Menston.

With many people already in bed for the night, scenes of commotion broke out on the corridors inside the block, with neighbours having to bang on doors to alert others to the danger, according to residents.

Such was the ferocity of the blaze that fire crews from Rawdon, Idle, Otley, Ilkley, Stanningley, Cookridge, Odsal and Moortown spent two hours bringing the flames under control.

Shivering residents were taken to nearby High Royds Sports and Social Club for the night where they were given food, drink and shelter.

But they have been warned it could be “some time” before their flats will be habitable again because of major fire damage to the roof and water damage to the floors below.

It is believed that police are investigating whether a cannabis farm in the roof of one of the apartments was the source of the fire which broke out late on Wednesday.

Paula Hill, 31, a sales support worker for a financial advisor, evacuated the building with her one-year-old son, Elliot, then spent the rest of the night with her parents in Otley.

She said: “We had put the baby to bed and were almost asleep when we heard a lot of running around and banging.

“People were shouting ‘Get out, the roof’s on fire’.

“We grabbed the baby and as much stuff as we could carry and got out. It was just panic really, trying to get Elliot out.”

Sarah Brook, 30, a veterinary nurse, said: “I was just getting ready for bed and then my neighbour knocked at the door saying ‘Quick, the building’s on fire, get out’.

“I came outside and the roof had all fallen through. There were some big flames coming out.”

Lynette Clapham, 29, a teacher, said: “I was in bed and could hear people running up and down the stairs. There was a knock at the door and I heard someone shout.

“I felt petrified. I live on my own, and I didn’t know what was going on. I didn’t know how long I was going to be out and I didn’t know where the fire was at that point.

“When I got out it was a lot worse than I thought it was going to be.”

Paul Holdsworth, watch manager at Rawdon fire station, said: “When we arrived there was quite a severe fire in the roof and we didn’t know if the residents had all evacuated, so we had to search the building.

“We had to ask for extra resources. We spent a couple of hours getting it under control and contained the fire to the roof area.”

Menston House, a block of 12 apartments, is part of a huge housing development at the former psychiatric hospital at High Royds. It is home to hundreds of apartments, many of which are only about two years old.

West Yorkshire Police said a 28-year-old local man had been arrested in connection with the incident.