Part of canal shut to navigation after dry conditions

Locks, including those in Cropredy, north of Banbury, have been affected on the Oxford Canal

A stretch of the Oxford Canal will be closed for navigation until at least early next month because of the impact "exceptionally dry conditions" have had on reservoirs.

The Canal & River Trust earlier closed the stretch of 16 locks between Claydon and Little Bourton in Oxfordshire, but an extension to include Banbury and Aynho's locks will stay until at least 5 September.

It said the closures were needed to "protect increasingly limited water resources" and to help preserve the canal's infrastructure and ecology.

Despite the measures, it said it could need to take other action to temporarily close stretches on the canal in "extreme local circumstances".

"If it rains enough to allow safe navigation, restrictions will be lifted: this is likely to require sufficient and prolonged rain over several weeks rather than a sudden very heavy downpour," it said.

"We understand that this continues to be disappointing news, and our priority is to reopen the canal to full navigation as soon as possible."

The Oxford Canal north of Banbury and through the town is fed by reservoirs including Boddington, in Byfield, Northamptonshire, Wormleighton in Warwickshire and Clattercote, near Banbury.

The trust said despite efforts to stop it, the long-term average water levels "are continuing to fall due to canal water demands".

Low water levels on canals have caused problems for narrowboat owners in the West Midlands and the North West this month.