DROUGHT conditions are set to close the Leeds and Liverpool Canal throughout East Lancashire to travelling boats from the start of next month.

Canal boats will not be allowed to use locks through Blackburn, Hyndburn, Burnley, and Pendle after August 2.

British Waterways experts are predicting that water levels in its six local reservoirs will be running at just 10 per cent by early August.

Restrictions have been in place since the end of May and were tightened again in June, with boats currently only allowed to move freely from 10am to noon, and 2pm to 4pm.

Several marinas and coarse and trout fisheries in the area rely upon the canal and reservoirs for their survival.

Tracey Garrett, British Waterways communications manager, said: “We are look-ing at a number of options with hire boat companies regarding relocation during this time.”

Previously, the only time such restrictions were put in place was during a similar drought in 1995.

Excess water is lost every time a lock is operated, and poor rainfall is being blamed for the current low reservoir levels.

The affected East Lancashire reservoirs are Rishton, Barrowford, Foulridge Upper and Lower, Slipper Hill and Whitemoor in Barnoldswick.

Under the ban, boats are restricted between Wigan and Gargrave, near Skipton.

Canal stretches from Liverpool to Wigan and Gargrave to Leeds are currently unaffected, but being kept under review.

Waterways officials say the situation will be reassessed once reservoir levels reach 20 per cent, or over.