VITAL repairs to historic lock gates at one of the rises on the Leeds and Liverpool canal at Bingley have been revealed in a new planning application.

The Canal and Rivers Trust has asked Bradford Council for permission to remove and replace gates at the top lock of the Three Rise section of the canal.

The work will mean closing the canal for around two weeks this winter and may also provide the chance for visitors to explore the dry waterway on a special open day

The locks are part of a stretch first opened on March 21, 1774 and was an early part to be completed in the massive engineering project which was fully opened 46 years later.

Bill Froggatt, heritage advisor for the Canal and Rivers Trust, wrote the application for the necessary refurbishment and explained the work to be done.

"This is a very significant stretch of the canal. The existing gates were installed in 1990 and are now in a poor condition and leaking heavily.

"We would hope to do the work this December, which would take about two weeks and we may have a special open day like the one we had when the Five Rise locks were closed.

"It's great because people are allowed to walk through the locks and see how it all works," Mr Froggatt said.

The existing gates are painted black, but the replacements would be plain oak as this has been found to be a more durable method which was used during refurbishment of the Five Rise section.

Gates become damaged inevitably over time, due to narrow boats bumping against them as they travel up the canal.

Ward councillor David Heseltine said the locks were part of the town's identity.

"The Three Rise is part of Bingley's history and this work will add to everyone's enjoyment of the section of the canal.

"People should go and have a good look when the work's being done. The locks are wonderful pieces of machinery and engineering," said Cllr Heseltine (Con, Bingley).