REPAIRS following a collapse at the Trent and Mersey Canal in Rudheath might not be complete until next year.

The navigation and towpath between bridges 184 and 185 have been closed for more than a month after a hole appeared in the towpath.

The Canal and River Trust confirmed the cause of the collapse was a decaying timber box culvert which needed replacing.

It still hopes to have both the canal and towpath open in time for Christmas, but the trust now says the work may only be complete in January 2021.

In an update on its website, spokesman for the trust said: "We continue to make progress at Broken Cross between Bridge 184 and Bridge 185.

"Our contractor has removed the old culvert, cleared part of the canal bed and formed a concrete pad along the line of the new culvert.

"We will be taking down the towpath washwall and will use a small excavator to remove part of the towpath. We will then be installing the new pipe and concrete surround before moving our attention to the upstream and downstream connections and reinstating the bed.

"Our teams continue to work seven days a week with the hope we can reopen both towpath and canal navigation before Christmas, however due to initial constraints beyond our control and with the safety of our contractors in mind, works could continue into January 2021.

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"Whilst timescales are still uncertain, once we have completed excavations, we should be in a better position to understand when the canal and towpath may be reopened."

The trust is due to give a further update by Wednesday, December 16.