THE Canal and River Trust (CRT) says it hopes to have a section of canal near Audlem reopened by Easter as repairs continue.
In January the Shropshire Union Canal next to Audlem's Overwater Marina developed a leak in the bed of the canal, with water escaping through an underground culvert.
The whirlpool did briefly become a minor tourist attraction before the repairs began, but work has since been undertaken by the CRT to repair the section of canal at Bennetts Bridge.
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A spokesman for the CRT said the the outlook was positive for an Easter reopening.
"Fair weather and hard work by our contractors have allowed us to make good progress on the repair works to the culvert at Bridge 80, Bennetts Bridge on the Shropshire Union Canal," said the spokesman.
"The new pipe has been installed across the bed and into the towpath, and the trench has been backfilled.
"Most of the puddle clay has now been placed into the canal bed and stonemasons are on site repairing the washwalls.
"We have prepared the towpath by opening it up ready to construct a new access chamber which will connect to the existing downstream pipe.
"Over the next week we will be working on completing the washwall and canal bed repairs, constructing the new access chamber within the towpath and making the downstream connection.
"Our contractors continue to work weekends and, weather permitting, the outlook is positive for the canal to be reopened for Easter."
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