Work starts to repair breached Trent and Mersey Canal

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-21242754

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Work has started to repair part of a Cheshire canal which collapsed in flooding last year.

The Trent and Mersey Canal breached its banks at Dutton after heavy rain in September, leaving a hole the size of 12 double decker buses in the side.

The Canal and River Trust is investing nearly £2.1m to fix the damage.

It will use 12,000 tonnes of stones and other materials to reconstruct the 235-year-old canal embankment and will also install new drainage.

The drainage will help disperse excess ground water and a specialist flexible waterproof liner mat will be used to re-line and seal the canal.

The trust is hoping the work will be completed by May.

Vince Moran, operations director for the Canal and River Trust, said: "I'd like to thank everyone over the last few months for their support and kind donations to help us with the repairs.

"This incident has demonstrated the love that people have for canals which are an important part of the nation's history as well as being a vibrant part of contemporary society enjoyed by people and wildlife alike."

Following the breach, the trust rescued thousands of fish from the stretch of canal after it dried up in October.

The fish, which included bream, roach and some eels, were released safely in another part of the canal.