Water deliveries to keep Wiltshire pumping station open

The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust is hoping to re-open the historic attraction next week

A 19th Century beam engine in Wiltshire, which was shut down after its water supply failed, is to re-open.

Crofton Pumping station, near Marlborough, was forced to close after tests revealed that the site's water source was "heavily polluted".

The source, a deep level borehole, provides water to a cafe, toilets and cottages at the historic attraction.

The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust is hoping to resolve the problem with weekly deliveries of fresh water.

The pumping station, built in the 1800s, is run by Canal Trust volunteers as a museum exhibit.

Mike Rodd, from the trust, said the charity had to buy a water tank and organise fresh water deliveries "to get the attraction open again".

'Very expensive'

"Once a week we'll bring in a tanker load of fresh water so that we can provide the domestic water ourselves because the borehole is simply continuing to be polluted," he said.

"It's a lot of water, 9,000 odd litres, and it's very expensive. You're talking in the region of over £300 per tanker load of water - the road transport costs alone are high."

The trust is hoping to re-open the site next week.

In the meantime, boaters on the Kennet and Avon Canal are being advised to collect water from Great Bedwyn Wharf or Wootton Rivers Lock.