ALMOST £10m will be spent in Kirklees to replace ageing underground gas pipes between now and March 2013.

Gas distribution company Northern Gas Networks will spend £9.8m in the district as part of a £91.5m project to safeguard gas supplies to homes and businesses in Yorkshire and North East for decades to come.

More than £50m has been allocated to West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, the East Riding and Hull for the financial year ending March, 2013, to replace more than 470km of old metal gas mains with modern plastic pipes.

A total of £91.5m will invested by the company across its customer area, which also includes homes and businesses in the North East and Cumbria.

Northern Gas Networks serves 2.7m customers and looks after 37,000km of pipes – enough to stretch from Leeds to Sydney, Australia and back again.

Northern Gas Networks’ engineers also handle the emergency response in the region for customers who report a smell of gas by calling the national emergency gas line 0800 111999.

Northern Gas Networks director Howard Forster said: “This major investment package is good news for families and businesses in Yorkshire, as it will deliver a safer, more reliable gas network. The new pipes are far more durable, and will serve the area well for decades to come.

“Customers will be kept informed of where and when schemes will be taking place throughout the year.

“We will work closely with local communities to minimise any inconvenience arising from work.”

A breakdown of the West Yorkshire figures shows that £9.8m will be spent replacing 92km of pipes in Kirklees while £6.7m will go to Bradford (65km); £2.9m will be allocated to Calderdale (26km; £11.1m will go to Leeds (116km); and £5.9m will go to Wakefield (53km).