A 300-metre exclusion zone has been placed around the transmitting centre in the North York Moors, with the public told to keep at a safe distance away from the area. Homes across the area were without TV reception, while the cause of the fire is still unknown. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it worked through "difficult conditions" to stop the fire with crews coming together from across the region to battle the blaze.

       The fire service added: "Only one building in a complex of four was affected and there are concerns about the structural integrity of the mast.

       "A 300-metre exclusion zone has been put in place around the mast.

       "Eight pumps from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service attended the incident and firefighting has now ceased until the site has been confirmed as safe for further work."

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       Built in 1969, the gigantic TV mast supplies digital TV signals to the north-east of England.

       With fears it could collapse at any moment, North Yorkshire Fire Services will be working with site operators, Arqiva "to bring the incident to a safe conclusion".

       The fire service added: "This area has limited access and we need to be able to move vehicles and people around to help fight the fire."

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       Locals Ron Needham and his wife, Sue, who were out hiking on the moors during the blaze on Tuesday afternoon and witnessed smoke coming off the TV cast.

       Mr Needham said they were "a little worried" after witnessing "smoke coming out of the top a bit like a chimney".

       The couple watched the smoke until they saw "a huge black cloud of smoke come from the buildings at the bottom.

       "By the time we left the moor and got back down to our car along a narrow moorland road the smoke had stopped, so we assumed it was under control and then a fire engine came flying down this narrow moorland road."