A £¼m repairs project is being carried out on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.
The revamp is one of the biggest ever on the waterway since it re-opened after a long campaign.
As part of its annual programme of restoration and repairs to historic waterways across the country, the Canal & River Trust is undertaking essential maintenance works on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal this winter.
Projects totalling around £250,000 will be completed to further restore the waterway, including painstakingly repairing historic canal walls, locks and lock gates.
The works are taking place at locks, 5, 6, 16, 20 and 35 on the canal between the centre of Huddersfield and Marsden.
The majority of the works are being carried out throughout December when engineers and skilled workmen will be draining sections of canal, craning out old lock gates, installing new ones and carefully restoring 200-year-old brickwork.
This winter the Trust is spending a total of £45m to look after 2,000 miles of canals and rivers across England and Wales.
David Baldacchino, Canal & River Trust waterways manager, said: “The Huddersfield Narrow Canal is much loved but people may not realise that there’s quite a lot of work needed to look after it.
“Our teams are out in all weathers and over the next few months our engineers and heritage experts will be braving the cold to give the canal the care and attention deserves.
“It’s painstaking, specialised work but the canal is an important part of the region’s heritage so it’s right that we devote some time and craftsmanship to help continue its restoration and protect it for future generations.”
Richard Parry, chief executive of the Canal & River Trust, said: “Every day thousands of people visit or cruise on our waterways without ever seeing all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes, and below the waterline, to look after this historic and remarkable infrastructure.
“This winter we are spending around £45m on essential repair and restoration works and routine maintenance to our canals and rivers.
“By showcasing this work to the public we can give them a glimpse of the craftsmanship of the waterways’ original 18th century design and the scale of the work we do to care for it.
“We hope this will inspire more people to get involved to enjoy and help support their local canal or river navigation”.
