Water engineers from Bradford-based Yorkshire Water are swapping spanners for radars as they move into the 21st century.

The company has unveiled its new high tech approach to water maintenance, using specially adapted vans with computers and radar devices to pinpoint the problem

location.

Water chiefs say the new equipment will help improve and speed up every aspect of water engineers work, because it will save them having to dig up roads unnecessarily to identify problems.

A spokesman for the company said: "It truly is pioneering equipment and we are one of the first water firms in the country to use it.

"Normally engineers have been going about their business having to work from a laptop on the passenger seats of their van.

"With these new vehicles they have the back of their van effectively kited out as an office allowing them to work much more comfortably and safely."

The fleet of Vivaro vehicles, all equipped with the new technology, will begin operating in the area within the next two weeks.

James Cochran, one of the first engineers to take delivery of the new vans, said: "I'm really looking forward to getting the keys to the new van, but the vehicle is only part of the story.

"What we are now using not only makes our job easier but it helps customers too as we can get to the nub of problems a lot quicker and repair them in less time.

"Technology also means when we are upgrading water mains customers' water doesn't have to be shut off for lengthy periods as was done only a few years ago."

Each fully equipped van costs £19,000 to be installed with the radar scanner, computer systems and plumbing equipment.

The radar technology alone costs £10,000 a time to be installed into the vans in a move which should help plumbers identify problems in far shorter time frames.

Yorkshire Water bosses are hoping to introduce the technology across the country in the coming months but chose Bradford as the launch-pad.

The spokesman for the company, which employs just over 1,000 people, said: "We are a Bradford-based company and for this reason we chose to launch the new technology here.

"Over the coming weeks they will be going into operation around Yorkshire, and then eventually around the country."