Boat stuck in canal lock as damaged gates collapse

The boat remains stuck in the lock after the gates collapsed

A boat became stuck in a canal lock after the gates collapsed because of damage believed to have been caused by vandals.

The Shropshire Union Canal was closed in Audlem, Cheshire, at about 22:00 BST on Tuesday when the gates dropped while a barge was making its way through the lock.

The Canal and River Trust said the gates became detached from the lock walls after someone removed both gate collar fixings.

The boat remains in the lock and the trust said it was supporting the owners while ensuring the lock was safe.

It said: “Our engineers have completed their inspections and in order to lift the gates back into position, we require lifting equipment to be brought to the site.”

The work to repair the lock and reopen the canal is expected to take a couple of days, the trust added.