A LEAKING canal has left a historic horse drawn boat crew stranded.

Sue Day, of the Horse Drawn Boat Society, has had to cancel a plan to make the trip down to Huddersfield from Marsden because of a leaky culvert near Sparth reservoir, near Marsden.

The culvert links the Huddersfield Narrow Canal with the River Colne and the repairs now being carried out by engineers effectively means that section of the canal has to be drained.

Sue Day said: “Every year we try and take a horse drawn boat down to Huddersfield to let people see what life on the canal used to be like.

“Now it means we will have to stay at Tunnel End before we return via the Standedge Tunnel to Ashton.

“They are working to repair the problem, but people who want to see our horse drawn boat will have to go to Tunnel End.

“We are there until 1pm on Sunday, which is also a Teddy bears Picnic Day at the Visitor Centre.”

Laurence Morgan, general manager for British Waterways Yorkshire, said: “Our team is currently working on repairing the canal bed.

“ The leak, which is close to Sandhill Cottages, is being repaired over the next few days. It has been necessary to close the canal to boating traffic from Marsden railway station to Slaithwaite.

“This means we can de-water a short section of the canal close to the culvert so our team can access the area.

“I would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to our boating customers, but it is expected the works will be completed by May 6.”