Ambitious plans have been revealed to turn part of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal into a major heritage attraction.

British Waterways has applied for grants totalling £300,000 to kick start a project explaining the huge importance of the canal during the industrial revolution.

The majority of the cash – about £250,000 – will be spent on renovating Bingley’s Three Rise lock cottage, a building that existed by the waterway from 1850 until the late 1950s.

It will operate as a heritage and interpretation centre to explain the crucial role the canal played in the region’s rich history and be the start of a heritage trail along the canal towpath.

British Waterways hope the project – known as the Bingley, Saltaire and Shipley Destination Delivery Plan – will open up the canal as an educational resource and tourist attraction for future generations.

Shipley MP Philip Davies joined British Waterways bosses at Bingley’s iconic Five Rise Locks at the official project launch.

He said: “I am a huge fan of preserving our local heritage and this is a famous part of the canal network. We should make the most of it and be incredibly proud of the Three and Five Rise Locks.

“I am delighted that British Waterways want to restore the canal to its former glory.”

Under the three-year plan, a waterbus which ran along the canal until 2001 may also be re-instated and another heritage centre could be built in Shipley.

Additional moorings in Saltaire, Shipley and above Five Rise Locks are being considered to encourage more boaters to stay overnight.

British Waterways’ Yorkshire general manager, Laurence Morgan, said the vision was to extend the project into Bradford city centre.

He said: “We have been talking to Bradford Council about the potential of the canal corridor network taking us through to the centre of Bradford. It is the only city centre in Yorkshire without a canal basin and it needs one.

“It will bring opportunities for residents and businesses in the city.”

Councillor David Heseltine (Con, Bingley) who also attended the launch, said: “Tourism is important and improved accessibility to the canal can benefit people coming into the area.

“But this is also so that local people and school children can get a feel of the importance of their heritage.”