A "near-lifeless ditch" has been transformed into a habitat that will benefit insects, birds and mammals.
The University of Leicester and the Welland Rivers Trust (WRT) have worked together on an environmental project to restore the natural beauty of the River Welland in Market Harborough.
Professor David Harper, from the University of Leicester and lead scientist on the project, said: "The Welland is a beautiful river in those very few places that were not destroyed by river engineers in the 1960s.
"They turned 95 per cent of our lowland English rivers into monotonous, lifeless ditches merely for water carriage.
"The trust is immensely proud to have been able to turn 1.8 kilometres of near-lifeless ditch into a living river ecosystem again for people to enjoy once more, as their grandparents did."
The project has removed six weirs and created berms - which are strips of land that border rivers.
Pools were also dug and riffles were created - which is where gravel is put in the shallow parts of the water.
Following this work, conditions are now good for a variety of different fish.
This will consequently benefit insects, birds, and mammals further up the food chain.
Birds such as wagtails, which used to be rarely seen through the town, have already been seen foraging along the river edges for flies.
Fish and eels are now also freer to move throughout the waterways of Market Harborough and a variety of deep spaces for fish to hide are available. There are also good spots for the aquatic creatures to spawn.
The work will also help to prevent species of plants from overgrowing and choking the channel.
Peter Barham, project manager, added: "The people and community groups of Market Harborough have been really active in contributing towards the transformation of the river through the town centre.
"We are proud to be associated with them. The district council supported our ideas and shared our vision throughout and the contractors who put our designs into reality were brilliant."
A public meeting will be held next Spring to discuss the restoration works and the WRT invites the community to attend and to give their opinions or pose any questions they may have about the restoration or the trust.
The WRT can be contacted on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WellandTrust or on Twitter @WellandTrust
