£60m restoration begins for region's Victorian reservoirs

Over the next five years, improvements are being made to 44 reservoir sites where water is collected before being treated and delivered to homes and business across the region.

Work will get underway next week at Embsay Reservoir where 2.2m is being invested to replace the existing overflow.

For safety reasons, the reservoir water level will be temporarily lowered during the work.

The level will be returned to normal once work is completed in April next year.

The Yorkshire reservoirs, many of which were built in Victorian times, will undergo detailed inspections to ensure they meet modern-day safety standards.

Work is planned to upgrade some overflow channels and embankments.

Yorkshire Water community engagement manager Richard Sears said: "These dams have served us extremely well, some for more than a century.

"This essential programme of work will ensure that Yorkshire Water can continue to provide the people of Yorkshire with a plentiful supply of high quality drinking water for many more years to come."

Many of the reservoirs earmarked for investment have become extremely popular with people who visit them for a range of recreational activities, including walking, cycling, fishing, bird-watching and sailing.

Mr Sears said the needs of reservoir users would be taken into account during the work.

To find out more details about the Yorkshire Water scheme, visit yorkshirewater.com/reservoirs