A BRADFORD Council team managed to clear 95 street drains in one area on "one of the hottest days of the year".

The local authority's gully cleaning team were out in the Eccleshill area last Thursday, when temperatures topped 27 degrees Celsius in Bradford.

Councillor Geoff Reid (Lib Dem Ind, Eccleshill) and Councillor Sue Knox (Lib Dem Ind, Eccleshill) joined the team for the special day of action.

Almost 100 drains were cleared using special machinery, including in the Thorpe Edge area (pictured).

Cllr Knox said: “It was one of the hottest days of the year but these guys managed to clear 95 gullies in our ward before moving on to other jobs”.

Both councillors helped the council's Ward Officer and Wardens with preparatory work for the clean-up.

But they were troubled by some of the rubbish that was being pulled up from the drains on the day.

Cllr Reid said: “We were impressed but saddened when we saw the team extract some of the trickiest rubbish including tin cans and chunks of plastic that people had foolishly thrown down the drains.

"So much stuff can be flushed out but the worst of it requires sheer physical labour.

"We salute Divisional Manager Paul Naylor, along with his gulley operatives, Stuart Douthwaite and Mark Cooper, for their efforts in spite of the high temperatures”.

Another action day is planned for the future and all three Eccleshill Ward councillors will again suggest priorities before it happens.