CANOEISTS are facing a journey into the unknown as waterways bosses are giving permission to paddlers to use a mile-long underground route in East Lancashire.

From Saturday for the first time, canoes will be allowed to join narrowboats in traversing the 221-year-old Foulridge Tunnel, on the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

The Canal and Rivers Trust is installing a traffic light system at either end of the tunnel to avoid any conflict between users.

And only experienced paddlers are being urged to take up the challenge, which should take between 10 and 25 minutes.

Chantelle Seaborn, the trust’s waterways manager, said: “At one mile long, Foulridge Tunnel is an exceptionally long canal tunnel to canoe through.

“Safety is of paramount importance and canoeists will be required to adhere to the simple, yet effective safety precautions that have been put in place.

“These include, checking the tunnel is clear of other craft before entering, wearing a forward-facing bright white light and a personal floatation device with attached whistle. We advise only experienced canoeists enter the tunnel alone.”

Trust bosses are keen to allow canoeists to 'go deep under the Pennines', as more and more paddlers use the canals network each year.

Opening up the tunnel will contribute toward an effort to create a 162-mile coast-to-coast canoe trail, from Liverpool to Goole, also incorporating the Aire and Calder Navigation. It will be known as the Desmond Family Canoe Trail and is being funded by the Desmond Foundation.

Greg Brookes, canoe trail rail programme manager, said: “Making it possible for canoeists to access to Foulridge Tunnel has been a major step forward in developing the trail.

“Foulridge Tunnel is such a unique paddle, unlike anywhere else in the country, which I think will prove popular among the paddling community.”

The launch event, on Saturday, is set to feature a local club, Pendle Paddlers, and young canoeists, as part of the national Go-Canoeing Week.

Chantelle and Richard Parry, the canal trust’s chief executive, will be joining them, for a 50-strong ‘mass paddle through’

The tunnel was completed in 1796, making the canal navigable from Burnley to Leeds.