Work has begun on the £500,000 project, which will see engineers lay around two miles of modern, plastic pipe along Smithwell Lane to Colden village, and is expected to be completed by late October.

Northern Gas Network, the group which manages the supply, is improving the pipeline in the village after it became clear that an LPG tank supplying 13 homes was becoming out of date.

Once in place, Northern Gas Networks will connect the existing LPG customers to the new main before removing the redundant LPG tank.

The work in Colden is in addition to a £1.6 million investment across Calderdale this year to upgrade the area's gas mains and part of an annual £83 million investment.

John O'Grady, director of communications at the group, said: "Many of us take mains gas for granted but among rural communities it's not uncommon to be on LPG, oil or coal which are less environmentally friendly and often more expensive forms of energy. Extending our network to Colden is a boost to the local infrastructure and moreover, it's something people really want."

Colden had a mains gas supply until 1970 when the pipes were abandoned and an LPG supply installed. Forty years later the tank has reached the end of its working life and it has been decided to restore a mains supply.

Max Tasker, landlord of Colden's New Delight Inn was delighted.

He said: "It's great news for Colden, a real boost to a village that can sometimes be overlooked. Its been a pleasant surprise to learn that a big company like Northern Gas Networks thinks about a small community like ours and is prepared to invest in its future."

When engineers reach the Colden end of the project, a section of road will be closed. This will be carried out during the school holidays and a signed diversion route will be in operation.

There will be no parking opposite the works when the new main is constructed at the Heptonstall end of the project.