Closing canal feels summer heat

Seven miles of the Leeds-Liverpol canal will be closed

A seven-mile stretch of the Leeds-Liverpool canal is being forced to close because the dry summer has left reservoirs dangerously low.

Locks along the highest part of the canal in the Pennines are being shut to stop water being wasted.

The restrictions will hit hundreds of narrowboat owners, tourists and the local businesses which rely on them.

The section of canal east of Colne, in Lancashire, will be closed from Friday afternoon, British Waterways said.

It said the section would be shut until water stocks improved, but added it was still possible for narrowboats to cross the Pennines by using the Bridgewater or Huddersfield canals.

Foulridge reservoir is at its lowest level for many years

The decision was taken because reservoirs in the area were so low.

The Foulridge reservoir, near Colne, is at its lowest level for many years following the driest summer in the area since 1933.

Water normally has to be pumped into the highest reaches because otherwise it drains into either the Mersey docks or Yorkshire rivers.

"To maintain levels on [the canal], we put 180 million litres of water into it each week, equating it to what members of the public are probably used to that's about 60,000 baths," said Dave Clarkson, of British Waterways.

He added that fish could die in reservoirs if action is not taken.