WELSHPOOL’S historic canal locks were sealed off this week, as workers got to grips with their refurbishment.

New lock gates are being installed at the site, near the Powysland Museum in Welshpool, as part of a scheme of refurbishment work taking place on the Montgomery Canal by the Canal and Rivers trust which has also seen work taking place at nearby Belan.

The Canal and Rivers Trust has brought forward a programme of works across the canal network to make the most of the dry summer, which they say is an early opportunity to carry out any planned work.

Dean Davies, head of direct services at the trust, said: “We’re making the best of the drought closures by treating them as an opportunity to complete some of the works we had originally planned for the winter. Not only does this mean we’ll have more flexibility over the course of the year but carrying out the work in the summer means that we’ll be able to take advantage of longer daylight hours and warmer, more hospitable weather.”

LEFT: Working on the new lock gates at Welshpool.