Super marina to open for viewing

A £7m canal-based marina, said to be the largest of its kind in Europe, is being opened for public viewing.

Mercia Marina on the Trent and Mersey Canal in Derbyshire, which will be officially opened in September, is welcoming visitors from 24-26 May.

Managers said building work was being completed on schedule by contractors Land and Water Services Ltd.

The water has been drained while work continues and 290 wooden piers have been laid out at Willington.

Project manager Mark Jenkinson said the Mercia Marina was "soft edged" with "grass all the way down to the water and timber jetties" to make it "aesthetically pleasing".

"What we are doing is encouraging people to come off the canal system, moor the boat somewhere that is very pretty and great for the user. It just frees the waterway up," he said.

The marina will be open on the May bank holiday weekend for people to go along and have a look.

The 585-berth marina at Willington Lake will feature a gastro-pub and 18 log cabins for holidaymakers. It will also have a chandlery and a fuelling quay.