A CHARITY which cares for 2,000 miles of waterways in England and Wales has launched a search for hundreds of volunteer lock-keepers.

And they need them on stretches through Huddersfield, including both the Narrow Canal and the Broad Canal.

The Huddersfield Narrow Canal itself features distinctive very narrow locks and scales the heights of the Pennines with part of it being the highest stretch of canal in Britain.

Lock-keeping is a historic fixture on the canals and the role of the modern-day volunteer is to help the Canal and River Trust look after the waterways, including helping boaters through the locks, providing a polite and friendly welcome to visitors and helping to maintain many listed locks.

Actor and adventurer Brian Blessed supported the first appeal last year, which saw more than 250 people come forward.

Now the trust is asking for local support to try to double these numbers in more than 50 locations across the country