RESIDENTS, councillors, churchgoers and police joined forces to rebuild a disused Huddersfield footpath.

Dozens of people came together to restore the path off Briarlyn Avenue, Birchencliffe. It leads to Fern Lea Road at Lindley.

Lindley ward councillor Christine Stanfield said: “I think it’s a wonderful community effort.

“Nowadays everybody wants something done by someone else. Here’s an example of people doing something for themselves. It should be celebrated.”

The initiative came about after Clr Stanfield was approached by members of the Mormon church.

They asked if there was a community project they could help out with as part of the church’s national Helping Hands Day.

Clr Stanfield said: “I had been approached by a number of parents who wanted their children to be able to walk to school.

“If this path – which had always been there but was overgrown – could be restored, it would be an enormous improvement for the area.

“We have been trying to get it done through Kirklees’s highways and footpaths department.

“But budgets are always stretched to breaking point and here was an opportunity for the community to get together and do something positive.”

Mormon spokesman David Fewster said: “This day of service is part of the church’s commitment to improving the environment, both in the community and our own facilities.”

About 100 people, including members of other churches and neighbourhood policing team officers, took part.

Chippendale plant hire loaned equipment for free. Methodist minister the Rev Rob Hilton served hot and cold drinks.

Neighbourhood policing team officer Graeme Hind said: “People will now be able to use pushchairs on the new path and so avoid Weatherhill Road, which has extremely narrow footpaths next to a fairly busy road.”