MARVELS of engineering - the Bingley Five Rise and Three Rise Locks - will be celebrated at a big 200th birthday party to be held in the town square, it has just been announced.

And volunteers are needed to help folk toast the bicentenary of the opening of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal with food, drink and entertainment on Sunday, October 16.

The festival is part of a joint celebration with the Canal & River Trust, which will mark the event with a special flotilla that includes The Kennet, a heritage barge owned by the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Society, which will be travelling along the waterway that snakes through the town.

As the flotilla approaches the town, people are invited to welcome the boats and cheer them along their way up both the Three Rise and then the famous Five Rise Locks.

Ideas for themes or on any aspect of the event are welcomed and anyone interested in helping to make the festival a day to remember is invited to a meeting at Cardigan House, Bingley on Saturday, April, 23 10am to 12pm.

The meeting is being organised by Bradford Council’s Shipley Area Co-ordinator’s Office, the Bingley Chamber of Trade and Commerce and the Canal and River Trust.

Ian Day, Assistant Director for Neighbourhoods at Bradford Council, said: "We know the people of Bingley like to get involved in what is happening in their local community and we hope that this festival is no exception. "Anyone who thinks they can help in any way to make the event a success for the town, should come along to the meeting."

Bingley Chamber of Trade president Howard Martin said wheels were already in motion.

"We've had a couple of meetings already and are gathering ideas - one possibility is to have a Victorian theme for the festival.

"We are hoping to make it as educational, fun and interesting as possible.

"There will be stalls with information as well as food and certainly things like children's rides.

"The purpose of this next meeting is to get as many people together with local business and the council and see what everyone can offer."

A Canal & River Trust spokesperson said: "We’re delighted to be working with Bradford Council to celebrate the Leeds and Liverpool Canal bicentenary with a festival in one of the canals most iconic settings.

"Any help from volunteers would be fantastic from initial planning of the event to helping on the day. "Volunteers will also be able to help shape how the festival will be which will be a wonderful event for all the community to get involved with."

For more information about the People Can initiative which encourages people to volunteer and get involved visit www.peoplecanbradforddistrict.org