Volunteer lock-keepers are being sought on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal as work continues on one of its famous landmarks.

British Waterways, which looks after 2,200 miles of canals and rivers, is looking for volunteers to help out on the locks in Bingley, where engineers are part-way through a £250,000 project to replace gates on the Grade I-listed Five Rise Locks.

Steve Bergquist, of British Waterways, said: “The key qualities we’re looking for are enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. Whether it’s helping a boat through the lock, talking to customers, litter picking or undertaking vegetation works, it can really make a great difference to a visitor’s appreciation of the waterways.”

The scheme has been launched by The Canal and River Trust (CRT), the charity which takes over British Waterways’ responsibility for waterways in England and Wales in April. It is being backed by actor and adventurer Brian Blessed More than 35,000 boats now call the waterways home – more than during the industrial revolution. British Waterways cares for 1,654 locks in England and Wales and there are five million passages through the locks every year.

Work to replace four of the six lock gates in Bingley started earlier this month. A crane is expected to arrive on the canal towpath tomorrow to start taking out the lock gates from 9am. Workers are due to spend part of today prepping the loading pads to ensure the canal bank can safely take the weight of the giant machine.

Water pumps and temporary stop planks to hold back the water have been installed and the locks have been drained. Three sets of cills have been removed.

A security fence, edge protection around the locks and full scaffolding have also been set up at the site. The project is expected to take at least another five weeks to complete and will cost £250,000 in total.

A list of volunteer lock-keeping locations is available by e-mailing volunteer@britishwaterways.co.uk, visiting waterscape.com/volunteerlockkeeper, or phoning 01827 252097.