Long-term unemployed people in Bradford will join a project clearing up the Leeds-Liverpool canal in a bid to get them back into work.

They will be painting, clearing rubbish, resurfacing tow paths and dry stone walling among jobs to make the waterway more attractive.

A partnership, led by Bradford Council and supported by career service Aspire-i and housing trust Incommunities, aims to work with employers to create 1,000 jobs in the district.

A five-strong team, led by British Waterways in partnership with the Bradford Motor Education Project (BMEP), will be responsible for carrying out maintenance such as painting, litter clearance, minor towpath resurfacing, and dry stone walling.

Kevin Metcalfe, operations manager for Bradford Motor Education Project said: “I’m sure the team involved will get a great sense of pride and satisfaction as they complete these vital maintenance tasks and be able to build on these skills and take them on to their future careers.”

The scheme is part of the Government’s Future Jobs Fund scheme which aims to create 150,000 jobs in unemployment hotspots.

Jane Thomson, regeneration manager for British Waterways (BW) North, said: “The benefits the waterways bring to society are wide reaching and the public now have a greater opportunity to take more ownership of their local canal or river and help us maintain a cleaner, more attractive waterway environment.”