A section of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal has re-opened after a major breach of the waterway left narrowboat owners stranded.

The canal, between Rishton and Church, breached in the early hours of October 11, losing a significant amount of water, with part of the canal nearly entirely drained.

Footage taken at the time showed a huge hole in the canal bank with water flooding through to the Hyndburn Brook.

Dams were installed to try and isolate the leak in the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, with narrowboat owners left unable to cook, shower or use their toilets. 

Lancashire Telegraph:

Now, following a six-month £1.7 million project to reinstate the canal for boaters, walkers, runners and the local community, the section has been re-opened.

Senior project manager at the Canal and River Trust, Dilwyn Parry, said: “We’ve been working hard on site to repair the canal and get it back open as quickly as possible.

"I’m pleased that it is back open for boating time for the peak summer season.

"There are some repairs continuing to the towpath between Bridge 109 to Bridge 110 which will be completed by end of May."

Rishton: Narrowboat owners stranded following canal breach

At the time, the Canal and Rivers Trust were unsure what caused the leak but they now say a small culvert dating back 200-years to when the canal was first built, and which carries a stream underneath the waterway, collapsed causing a section of the historic embankment to be washed away into the adjacent River Hyndburn.

More than 6,000 tonnes of stone have been needed to rebuild the canal embankment and reinstate the culvert.

The repair has been particularly challenging as the site of the breach is away from local roads and required a temporary access track to be built along the bed of the drained canal so that materials could be bought to site.

Mr Parry added: “The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is an extremely popular canal for the hundreds of boaters, walkers and cyclists that use it every day for their health and wellbeing.

"We would like to thank everyone for their patience and support whilst the work has been carried out.”

Canal & River Trust is asking people to #ActNowForCanals and help to support their local waterway, from volunteering projects, citizen science surveys, to raising funds or clearing up litter.

Every small action can make a huge difference.

For more information visit: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/donate