BUILDING workers rolled up their sleeves to clear an overgrown footpath in Keighley near their housing development.

Staff from Wildgoose Construction, which is building on the former Brontë Middle School site, showed their community spirit by taking part in an environmental action day.

As well as elbow grease the workers also provided a petrol strimmer, moss scrapers, shovels, wheelbarrows, gloves and hi-visibility vests.

They took along street food as they joined residents to clear the snicket running from Valley View Close to Harewood Crescent, connecting Bogthorn with Bracken Bank.

Pip Gibson, the community development worker for the area, organised the action day in response to conversations with local residents, town councillor Martin Walker, Bradford Council rights of way officers and site manager Andy Turner.

She said: “There has been a huge surge of interest from local communities in Keighley wanting to contribute their time and efforts towards environmental initiatives that benefit their neighbourhoods.

“The residents of Valley View and Harewood helped plan and implement the snicket clean-up and thoroughly enjoyed working alongside Wildgoose staff. Even the constant rain didn’t dampen their spirits.”

Wildgoose is building 69 apartments and a 50-bed care home for Bradford Council on the long-derelict Oakworth Road site of the former Brontë Middle School.

The £10.8 million scheme will provide 36 two-bed and 33-one bed extra care apartments for older people, with communal areas, lounge, activity room, restaurant, offices, hair salon, therapy room and offices.

Next to this will be the care home with lounge, dining areas, gym, offices, associated parking and gardens.

Designed by Bradford architects Langtry-Langton, the complex is part of Bradford Council’s Great Places to Grow Old Scheme and will support a drive for older people to maintain independent living.

Wildgoose will also construct 51 new homes in a contract worth £6.6 million on an adjacent site.

Made up of two, three and four bedroomed properties, the homes will be a mixture of terraced and semi-detached affordable houses built on behalf of the council.

Work has now started on both sites, with the 51 homes to be completed in May 2018 and the care facilities and apartments by the end of October 2018.

Carol Atherton, marketing manager at Wildgoose Construction, was one of the staff who took part in the clean-up.

She said: “It was hard work but very rewarding to make such a difference despite the rain. There was a great atmosphere and we were happy to help the community.”