A new leak has forced the temporary closure of a stretch of canal close to where a major collapse happened just before Christmas last year.
The closure, from Monday, of the Llangollen Canal, in Whitchurch, Shropshire, comes nearly nine months after millions of litres of water were sent cascading onto nearby land, in the early hours of 22 December, leaving boat owners in disbelief.
Work by the Canal and River Trust (CRT) has been ongoing across the year, but a wet patch had been discovered, it said.
The Whitchurch Waterway Trust (WWT) said the leak is thought to be from the canal to the south of the works, which means that part of the canal will have to be temporarily closed by the CRT.
WWT said it had contacted all the boats moored on the stretch, known as the Arm, to explain the situation ahead of the closure.
Owners have been given the option to stay where they are or move to moorings elsewhere on the canal.
In a statement on the group’s Facebook page, external it said the CRT had advised that the problem could be resolved within weeks or could extend for several months.