Just before Christmas, part of the Llangollen Canal collapsed, causing serious damage near Whitchurch in Shropshire. A large section of the canal wall gave way, sending thousands of gallons of water into nearby fields. As the water drained out, three boats were left stranded. Two dropped to the bottom of the canal, while one was left hanging over the edge.
For the people living on these boats, life changed overnight. Two families were forced to leave their homes and are still waiting to return. The collapse also closed long parts of the canal, which runs from Cheshire into Wales, stopping boats from travelling along this popular route.
The Canal and River Trust stepped in to manage the situation and start repairs. Their first task was to make the area safe and deal with the boats. One boat, called Pacemaker, was left in a dangerous position over the broken section. On Christmas Eve, workers used a winch to slowly pull it back. A few days later, it was safely refloated.
Now the focus has moved to the two boats sitting at the bottom of the canal. These cannot be lifted straight away. Engineers first need to check the ground beneath them and make sure the area is stable. Once it is safe, heavy machinery like cranes will be used to carefully lift the boats out.
Repairing the canal itself is a slow and careful job.
Until all repairs are finished, much of the Llangollen Canal will remain closed. This affects boaters, local businesses, and tourism in the area.
Although some progress has been made, full recovery will take time. The coming weeks will be important for rescuing the remaining boats and reopening this historic waterway.
