Bingley's famous Five Rise Locks could become one of the country's water wonders for the 21st century.

The beauty spot is one of seven canal schemes selected from the region - and the only one from Bradford - to be nominated for the Seven Wonders of the Inland Waterways competition.

Bradfordians are being urged to get their votes pouring in for the locks.

The five-rise locks was included in the list of the original seven water wonders, compiled 50 years ago by waterway journalist Robert Aikman, to ensure conservation and development of the waterways. Aikman was one of the founders of the Inland Waterways Association and a campaigner for the preservation of the waterways.

British Waterways conservation manager David Blackburn, who used to manage the locks, described it as 'a real gem'.

"It's a very unusual canal structure and a very fine piece of engineering for its time," he said. "It deserves to be up there with the best of them."

Councillor David Heseltine (Con, Bingley) said the site was a major part of the town's heritage.

"The locks would be number one in my book and to be listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Inland Waterways again would be wonderful," he said.

As part of the search for the seven wonders, launched by British Waterways and the Waterways Trust, people can vote on-line by August 31, for the best 'wonder' by visiting: www.britishwaterways.co.uk/sevenwonders.

Bingley Five Rise Locks has Grade II listed status and sees between 1,800 to 2,000 boats pass through it every year.

It costs £4,000 a year to maintain and new gates, bought every 30 years, cost £40,000.

In 1771, at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, King George III gave his assent to the Bradford Canal Bill, which saw the £6,000 waterway become a major link of the Leeds-Liverpool canal and was used to transport coal, iron and wool.