£3M MIDDLEWICH BREACH WORK

Repairs to the Middlewich Branch on the Shropshire Union Canal should be completed by Christmas.

A 12m deep hole was left in the canal bank in March after a member of the public left open the paddle gates on the locks, which allowed too much water into the canal. The canal overflowed, washing away a section of the embankment.

Contractors, on behalf of the Canal & River Trust, have installed dams and removed stranded boats and debris, and an access route along the canal bed has now been constructed to allow the physical repair work to begin.