Ecologists appealing for help to revitalise Bradford Beck say they have received an overwhelming response so far from people wanting to volunteer.

The Aire Rivers Trust is devising a management plan for improving the 11km waterway and wants community groups, stakeholders and individuals to get involved.

Following an appeal in the Telegraph & Argus, a water sampling training event at the University of Bradford on Thursday is now almost fully booked.

Bradford Beck project officer Michael Canning said: “We are delighted with the response we’ve had from the city so far and we have a healthy body of volunteers who are interested in participating in our work in restoring the beck. We are looking for a few more people to look after a sample point around the city where they will sample the water once a month and deliver it to me.

“The water will then be analysed in a laboratory for at least a dozen different pollutants and the results made public. It’s a fascinating process and a great way to learn new skills and meet new people who are also interested in this kind of work.”

As well as taking water samples from the beck, the organisation is also running a series of clean-up events, the first on Saturday, July 14. Two more are scheduled on Friday, August 3, and Saturday, September 8.

Members of community environmental groups across the city will be able to have a say on how the beck is managed at a meeting on Friday, July 27. Meetings for residents in different areas of Bradford will be held in early September.

People can also take pictures of areas around the beck they would like to see cleaned up and post them on the trust’s Facebook page.

The organisation is also seeking help from companies interested in offering sponsorship or financial support to help cover the cost of cleaning up the beck.

The beck drains an area known as the Bradford bowl, which is occupied by about 250,000 residents. It flows parallel to Thornton Road, disappears underground at Cemetery Road and remains largely hidden from view as it flows through the city centre under Centenary Square and Forster Square.

It appears above ground next to Canal and Valley Road before joining the River Aire in Shipley. Its tributaries include Horton Beck, Westbrook, Bowling Beck, Eastbrook, Chellow Dean, Pinch Beck and Pitty Beck.

For more information, e-mail michael.canning@aireriverstrust.org or visit bradfordbeck.blogspot.co.uk.

e-mail: hannah.baker@telegraphandargus.co.uk