VOLUNTEERS beavering away at restoring the Montgomery Canal near Crickheath have made more progress.

Since 2015 a 450-metre a restoration programme has been underway on a length of derelict canal between Pryce’s Bridge and Crickheath Bridge with a completion date of December this year.

The advent of Covid, as well as environmental issues with Great Crested Newts, has severely hindered progress; however due to the persistence and resilience of the volunteer army, the completion date is on track.

A spokesman said: "Because of the amount of residual water collecting in the channel that is being restored, the first task of the recent work parties was to pump out the vast volumes of water to enable the waterproof lining and blocking to begin.

"This task alone is presenting a real challenge to the restoration team.

"The lining process was made very difficult by the arrival of very strong gusts of wind which got under the plastic lining sheets causing huge air bubbles to form.

"In spite of this handicap 12 metres were prepared for blocking during a recent Friday afternoon's work.

"A further 18 metres of lining was quickly put down and the serious business of laying blocks began in earnest.

"The blocks are fed down a chute and then collected from the landing platform and laid down in sequence and by lunchtime on Sunday 30 metres of channel had been lined and blocked, using 3,000 building blocks.

"This was a magnificent effort by the volunteer team, many of whom are over 60 years of age and more."

This leaves the final 100 metre piece of canal, next to Crickheath Basin, to be shaped in readiness by the end of June.

A spokesman added: "Given the depressing picture that greeted volunteers at the recent work party, this is an amazing amount was accomplished over the three days.

"Further on down the canal toward Llanymynech, the Restore Group is gearing up for the reconstruction of Schoolhouse Bridge which is due to begin this year.

"Beyond this in Powys, Government funding is in place for the restoration of the canal from Llanymynech to Arddleen, which, hopefully will begin later this year."