A remote-controlled camera which is small enough to move through six-inch drains is helping a Bradford firm to expand.

The camera is one of a number used by Undercliffe firm Drain Brain - so called because it prides itself in putting a lot of thought into the drain repair and clearance business.

The camera is one of four costing thousands of pounds which the firm uses to investigate drains measuring between six inches and four feet in diameter.

The 40 kilo camera is dropped into a drain and a fibre-optic cable is attached. It is operated by remote control and the interior of the drain can be viewed on a television monitor.

The firm, which has expanded since it was set up two years ago, also has smaller cameras which it uses to video the insides of household drains and others it uses to video drains more than four feet in diameter.

Frank Walsh, who runs the firm with his brother John, said: "We go back and clean drains out three or four times a year with people who could have had a camera survey. This shows up anything wrong with the drain so they can see for themselves what needs to be done."

The firm is now helping in the fight against vermin by offering a free video survey to householders in the district.

Frank Walsh said: "We have noticed an increase in the number of rats and mice in drains and we want to do something about it.

"Many people suffer from blocked drains and when we go to sort them out we do a survey which includes video footage. We have had an increase in vermin appearing on the videos and now we want to help sort out the problem," he added.

Drain Brain is offering the survey to householders in the district. The firm is producing 20,000 leaflets making the offer which it is having delivered in parts of the city a bit at a time.

The company uses its mobile camera unit which makes a video of drains and produces a video cassette and written report of its findings.

Frank Walsh, 36, said: "We now have contracts with householders and firms including Dixons on Canal Road, Home Services, the former Yorkshire Water subsidiary, house builders and loss adjusters working for insurance firms."

The company, which started out with three people working for it and now has 22, has also gone into the drain clearance business using tankers with suction pipes. It plans to expand the number of tankers from one to three.

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