Divers carry out underwater repairs to historic lock

Divers carried out an inspection of the lock as well as removing one of the paddles

Divers have gone under water to make repairs to a Grade II listed lock on the River Avon near Bath.

Weston Lock is one of 104 locks between Bristol and Reading that make up the Kennet and Avon Canal and dates back nearly 300 years.

One of the lock's paddles - a trap door used to empty the lock of its water - was temporarily removed to allow a maintenance team to make repairs, before the divers fixed the paddle back in its place.

Contract manager at the Canal and River Trust, Rob Labus, said: "The lock is a remarkable piece of engineering, and we hope the repairs undertaken will make the lock easier to use."

Divers removed the paddle from under the water

Divers also carried out an inspection to help inform future maintenance at the lock and removed weeds and other waste from the water.

The Canal and River Trust said using divers minimised disruption for boaters and the lock only needed to be briefly closed.

Mr Labus said: "Weston Lock is nearly three centuries old and is still in daily use by boaters on the waterway.

"It is vital we carry out repairs and complete inspection work like this so that the navigation continues to be available for boaters and for the benefit of the local community.

"Using divers in this way is cost-effective and saves on the time needed for the navigation to be stopped."

The repairs to the paddle on the lock gate is expected to improve boaters experience of using the lock, which is one of the deepest on the canal, lowering or raising boats more than 2.7meters (9ft).