ATLANTIC salmon could be passing through the river Aire in Keighley again thanks to a £800,000 National Lottery cash boost.

Fish passes are to be constructed at Armley, Kirkstall, Newlay Bridge and Saltaire to enable the salmon to reach spawning gravels in tributaries at Gargrave.

The project, which is a partnership between the Environment Agency and the Aire Rivers Trust, will see the removal of the last barriers to fish movement between the North Sea and Gargrave and the Yorkshire Dales.

It will turn the clock back to a time before industrial pollution – and the construction of weirs – when the river was rich in salmon.

The fish passes will also allow coarse fish, such as dace, chub and barbel to move freely up and down the river to find the best places to feed, spawn and shelter.

The work will fill the gap between Leeds and Gargrave following the construction of fish passes at weirs between the city and the Humber estuary.

A range of different organisations have been involved including the Upper Aire Project which has worked with farmers and landowners to improve water quality and spawning grounds where salmon can breed.

Mark Scott, Environment Agency Yorkshire area director, said: “With our partners we have worked for many years to improve and restore the River Aire and with this lottery support it’s now within our grasp to finally return salmon to their historic habitat.

“This is wonderful news for the people and communities along the River Aire and for the reputation of Leeds and Bradford as great cities.”

A trail of ‘Focus Points’ are to be created, where people can access their river and learn about and enjoy its natural heritage.

The aim is for these to provide opportunities to promote Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths (STEM) subjects within schools, local colleges and universities.

Apprenticeships in construction would be offered and local people would also be invited to get involved and gain skills in river ecology and stewardship.

Kevin Sunderland, Aire Rivers Trust trustee, said: “It’s been our long held ambition to allow the passage of coarse fish and enable the return of migratory fish to one of Yorkshire’s great rivers.

David Renwick, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for Yorkshire & the Humber, said: “In recent years otters have returned, plants are flourishing and kingfishers can be seen catching fish in even the most urban areas."