Canal & River Trust staff worked through the night to carry out emergency repairs to Adderley Lock No 3 on the Shropshire Union Canal, near Market Drayton.
In an effort to minimise disruption to boaters during the peak summer boating season, Trust staff carried out overnight repairs to replace damaged bottom gate liners. The canal was closed for a 12 hour period from 6.30pm and re-opened again at 6am the following morning.
The lock is an important part of the north-south canal network on the popular Shropshire Union Canal between Audlem and Market Drayton.
Mike Shore, an engineer with the Canal & River Trust, said: “Hundreds of boaters use this stretch of canal each week during the summer season so we were determined to keep disruption to a minimum. We needed to make the repairs to keep the lock gates operational – the work wouldn’t wait until the usual winter programme so we decided the best option was an overnight emergency repair.
“I am delighted to say the gates are now good as new again and boaters hardly noticed the disruption to navigation.”
For more information about the Canal & River Trust , check out the website www.canalrivertrust.org.uk, ring 0303 040 4040 or email [email protected].