A revolutionary water clean-up scheme which should bring Bradford's masterplan one step closer could soon go on trial in the city.

Scientists want to know if they can clean up Bradford Beck so water from it can be used in ambitious plans for a city centre lake and park.

But the system they want to use has never been tested, so they want a small-scale trial on nearby Pitty Beck and Chellow Dene Beck.

Funding for the trials is in the final stages of being negotiated. If approved they will go ahead later this year.

The masterplan for Bradford aims to breathe new life into the city through an urban park, a lake and wetlands.

But since the city wants to use water diverted from Bradford Beck - which is culverted under the city centre - experts have been working on ways of making sure the river's quality is up to scratch.

John Blanksby, senior research fellow at the University of Bradford's school of engineering, design and technology, said: "The project is basically looking at the ways we can produce sufficient qualities of water to be used for those purposes.

"We want to know the quality we can achieve and we want to know what happens to that quality in high and low rainfall."

Under the plan, diverted water will be pumped into the wetlands which naturally filter and clean it.

Mr Blanksby said he does not know of any other examples of a wetland system being used to filter river water so it can then be used in public amenities.

The trial wetland filter schemes at Pitty and Chellow Dene becks are now being debated at neighbourhood forums in each area.

The proposals for both sites also include cosmetic improvements to footpaths, benches and other riverside features.

Mr Blanksby said it was important people who live there have a role in the project.

He said: "We will consult with the local community to see what they want to see there in terms of pathways, playgrounds and so on."

The experiments at Pitty Beck, near Bell Dean Road and Thornton Road, and Chellow Dene Beck, around the Bullroyd area, would be funded by money earned from the Government's landfill tax and additional cash may soon come from the European Community.

One public meeting about the Pitty Beck proposals took place at St Francis's Village Hall, Greenway Drive, last week.

A neighbourhood forum about the Chellow Dene Beck plans will be at St Saviour's Church, Ings Way, on Monday, April 26 at 7pm.