Divers identify canal lock fault

The cill on the Crinan Canal sea lock failed on Sunday

Divers have identified the cause of the fault which resulted in the closure of the Crinan Canal sea lock on Sunday.

British Waterways Scotland said the original bond between the concrete cill and the lock floor had failed.

It said the structure, which was built in the 1930s, would need to undergo "substantial repairs".

A temporary repair will be attempted to try and limit closure to about 10 to 14 days. A full repair, lasting several weeks, will be undertaken in winter.

This will coincide with the canal's low season.

British Waterways Scotland described the repair work as "challenging" and said it was difficult to be precise on any timetable.

The speed of any repair work, it said, would depend on the availability of dive teams, local weather conditions and quick access to materials.

Safety checks would also need to be carried out before the lock was re-opened.

The sea lock allows boats to enter Loch Crinan from the canal.