A Bradford building firm has secured contracts on two projects worth a combined total of more than £4 million.

Wrekin Construction's Bradford office has begun work on a canal restoration project in the Manchester District worth around £2.25 million.

The company, which employs a core team of 15 at its city office, will excavate a 4km section of the Rochdale Canal working with British Waterways.

The firm has also been appointed by the Environment Agency to improve flood defences along a 3km stretch of the River Irwell, at Salford, in a £2 million deal.

Contracts manager Peter Long said: "These are some of the biggest contracts we've had from the Bradford office in recent years. We'll be taking on around 30 site staff to help on both jobs, and they will be an interesting challenge because both will be carried out on a partnership basis with the clients, which will allow us to contribute more."

Wrekin conducted an intensive value engineering exercise to reduce the cost of the Rochdale Canal scheme, which is due to be completed this autumn, from £3.3 million.

That contract is part of a £23.8 million programme managed by British Waterways, and will include the restoration of 13 locks as well as building three new footbridges.

The flood defence project, meanwhile, will involve raising embankments and building defensive walls to protect areas prone to flooding. It is expected to keep Wrekin's employees busy for 52 weeks.

Regional manager Colin Bell said: "Water is part of the life blood of the country but can also pose a threat to life and property.

"We are very pleased to be using our expertise on these diverse projects to improve the quality of life in the area."

The Bradford branch of the 40-year-old firm, based in Swain Green, was started up in 1991.