THE spring has continued to see volunteers working hard to restore the Montgomery arm of the Shropshire Union Canal as volunteers continued to work through all conditions.

The recent wretched weather made working conditions more difficult, however a considerable transformation has taken place during May.

However, despite the conditions, volunteer engineers and their hardworking labourers have made further positive strides.

A spokesman said: "One hundred metres of both channel banks, at the Crickheath end of the project, are now shaped to the correct angle and have been treated with cement to stabilise them.

"All that remains, now, in this area, is for the base to be levelled, and then the waterproof lining process can begin, during the second June work party.

"At the other end of the section, the boggy “Hell Hole” area was given some progressive remedial treatment. The channel bed was scraped out and a geogrid carpet was laid, and then covered with stone, to provide a stable base to support working dumpers and diggers.

"The sunken areas of towpath were prepared for the re-building process to start, while a significant amount of water had to be pumped out in a day, prior to this work beginning, as the pictures show."

There are now two work parties per month, top make up for lost time because of Covid-19 and new volunteers are always welcome.