Clubs' anger at fire photo jigsaw

The aftermath of the fire at Valley Parade

The companies which offered the picture have apologised

An online jigsaw service which offered a picture of the Bradford City fire has been criticised by the two football clubs involved in the disaster.

Bradford were playing Lincoln City at home on 11 May 1985 when the fire swept through a stand at Valley Parade, killing 56 people.

A jigsaw puzzle featuring a photograph of the fire was on offer on a website.

The online product was withdrawn before any were ordered, and the companies behind it have apologised.

Both Lincoln City and Bradford City said they wanted an explanation.

Bradford club secretary Jon Pollard said: "We are just disappointed that someone is trying to make financial gain from such a disaster.

"It's absolutely ridiculous, especially so soon after the anniversary. It beggars belief."

Urgent checks

Lincoln chairman Steff Wright said: "My initial reaction was one of disbelief that a company would, first, think there's a market for an image like that and, second, would not think of the effect it would have on those people involved.

"It's absolutely bizarre. If I'm being generous to them, it's just a very, very poor decision that somebody within the company has made."

In a joint statement, Media Storehouse and PA Photos said they "apologised unreservedly" for any distress caused by making the item available.

Media Storehouse runs online stores of photographs on behalf of organisations such as PA Photos.

Image-related products from the print stores, such as jigsaws, are also made available on third-party websites.

The Bradford City fire photo formed part of a book of historical football images published recently by PA Photos.

But all those images were then included on an automated feed of photographs available in various formats, such as prints and jigsaw puzzles.

The statement added: "An editorial filter should have been introduced to ensure that images, such as that of the Bradford fire, were not made available for purchase as a separate item.

"We have never manufactured or sold any gift products relating to this particular image.

"Media Storehouse and PA Photos are, as a matter of urgency, introducing additional checks to ensure this does not happen again."