Locks drained for £45 million canal clean-up

WATERWAYS officials were hoping to uncover the secrets of the deep after draining a canal as part of a £45 million maintenance programme.

The Canal and River Trust have drained locks on the Sheffield and Tinsley Navigation at Tinsley and invited the public to have a walk through the empty structures.

Hundreds of fish were rescued and relocated ahead of the works which will see the replacement of lock gates which were last changed in 1987.

Fish rescue specialists, MEM Fisheries used a technique called electrofishing — immobilising the fish with a low electrical current so they float to the surface — in order to move them for the duration of the works.

Last summer the Trust replaced lock gates at Aldwarke Lock, near Asda, Dalton.

During the process of draining the lock, maintainence teams uncovered a World War One service medal and several cannonballs.