REEDLEY Marina is attracting crowds of visitors - even during its building phase.

An open day at the £1.1million marina, which is being on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal near Barden Mill, drew in more than 1,200 people.

Work started in January and so far the basin has been dug out and jetties built for the 100 narrow and wide-beam boats that will be berthed there.

Barden Mill director Jason Fildes said: "People have been fascinated by the whole construction process and when we held an open day I was staggered by the 1,200 people we had down here.

"Now the jetties for the boats are in place people can get a better idea of what the finished marina is going to look like.

"Clearly the project has captured the imagination of people in the area."

The next phase of the project is to fill the basin with water.

"It will be a slow process - water will be pumped from the Leeds and Liverpool canal into the basin over the course of a week before the banking is removed.

The marina will be environmentally friendly as it is lined with existing clay, while organic coir edges and reed beds will also be planted.

Mr Fildes said: "We will be starting that process to pump in the water at the start of June and it will take about a week."

Final phase of the project is to complete the building of the marina facilities.

These will include a marina office, a members' room, washrooms, a laundry and chandlery.

There will also be a tearoom open to the public and parking facilities.

The marina should be complete in summer though an official opening is pencilled in for September.

Mr Fildes said: "We are delighted at the level of interest this project has already generated."