BARROWFORD Reservoir has been emptied of 265 million litres of water to test for signs of leakage.

The work is being carried out by the Canal & River Trust as part of a ten-yearly review of the reservoir.

A spokesman for the trust said that, following an inspection, there were slight concerns regarding the embankment.

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The water has been drained out over a two-month period. Once testing is complete, the reservoir is expected to be refilled before Christmas.

During the tests, boreholes have been drilled into the dam embankment in order to take soil samples which will establish whether any seepage is taking place.

The reservoir was built in the 19th century.

It is one of the smaller reservoirs used to supply water to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

A spokesman for the Canal & River Trust said: “Barrowford Reservoir was drained in stages about two months ago to enable a series of routine investigation works to be carried out.

“This involves drilling boreholes in the dry, downstream side of the dam embankment to take soil samples.

“Samples are then analysed and the results help engineers to determine whether any further works will be required.

“Engineers will also be carrying out topographical survey work inside the dam to record slope and construction details.

“The dam is lined with coarse stone setts.

“Once the inspection work has been carried out, the reservoir will be filled with water again.”

Inspections were carried out at reservoirs in Barrowford, Lower Foulridge, Upper Foulridge, Slipper Hill, Whitemoor and Rishton from March to June 2013.

Work was then carried out in and around the Rishton area to replace ten square metres of stone that had been stolen from around the edge of the reservoir.

The water level had to be artificially lowered until the work was completed.

Now the water is gradually returning to its original level.

Barrowford Reservoir was last emptied in 2012 when new lock gates — weighing several tonnes — were put in place in the canal as part of a £60,000 maintenance scheme.

At that time, water was also drained out of lock 49 by Higherford to lock 50 by the M65.

Fish were rescued and moved elsewhere.

The Canal & River Trust said no fish needed to be moved during the current work.