Permanent repairs to the 0.25 mile long embankment, which had suffered leakage and seepage problems for years, required closure and de-watering of a 500m stretch in November last year.

Following silt removal, repair work carried out over the winter has included:

Installation of a flexible liner on a new stone bed across the full width of the canal.

Construction of a new reinforced concrete tow-path wall over a length of 300m.

Raising the towpath at low points.

Repairs to two bridges at either end of the embankment.

In a move which will directly benefit the micro-ecology of the immediate surrounding area, a feature of the renovation has been the removal of 3,200 tonnes of silt accumulated on the bed of the embankment.

Following analysis for safe content and compatibility by specialist contractors, the nutrient-rich silt has been spread onto nearby fields where it will improve soil quality. The fields will be reinstated and re-seeded during the summer.