Months of essential structural work and repairs costing £400,000 starts at Stubden reservoir, Denholme on Monday.

Yorkshire Water has commissioned the work to meet safety standards at the 145-year-old reservoir off Long Causeway and ensure it continues to meet the standards of the Reservoirs Act 1975.

Engineering specialists, Mott MacDonald Bentley, are carrying out the work on behalf of the company, which will take until the end of April 2014 to complete.

They will be undertaking remedial works to the Victorian reservoir tunnels and wave wall and they will also investigate the condition of the spillway.

Denholme’s mayor Steve Nunn said he had not seen any details of the work programme, but welcomed the £400,000 investment.

“Any investment that takes place has got to be good news for the village and the area,” Mr Nunn said.

Tom Cochrane, Yorkshire Water Project Manager, comments: “We'd like to apologise for any inconvenience that our site construction traffic or noise may cause and we’d also like to thank residents in advance for their patience.”

A £60 million pound renovation programme for reservoirs across the Aire Valley and Wharfedale was rolled out in 2010.