A BEHIND the scenes look at vital canal repairs was offered at Marsden yesterday.

A public viewing platform was installed to give people a chance to check out engineers working on Lock 32.

The open day was a glimpse of part of British Waterways’ £½m winter overhaul for Huddersfield Narrow Canal – part of its £50m national programme for the 200-year-old waterways.

The skilled workers were tasked with fitting a new lock gate, able to withstand the huge pressures of the canal.

The new gates have been made at Stanley Ferry Workshop in Wakefield, one of only two lock gate workshops in the country.

Each lock gate is uniquely made to achieve a water- tight fit.

British Waterways’ manager David Baldacchino said: “These open days really allow people to get behind the scenes and learn what it takes to keep our 18th century canals in working order.”

A special open weekend will be held at Bingley Five Rise Locks this weekend and another open day is planned at Diggle’s Lock 31 on February 20.