Macclesfield Canal and towpath has reopened following a breach earlier this year.

The £350,000 Canal & River Trust project to reopen the canal came after a breach between Bridge 51, Cowley Bridge and Bosley Lock 12.

The works also included repairs to a 'substantial' sinkhole which later opened at Lock 3 and to the canal bed and wash wall between Bridge 26 and Bridge 27 in Bollington.

However due to the dry weather and works at Toddbrook Reservoir, restrictions on opening hours for boats navigating the Bosley Lock Flight are in place to help preserve water resources.

Simon Harding, a project manager at Canal & River Trust, said: "We've been working hard since March to repair the canal and get it back open for boaters and towpath users as quickly as possible.

"We've had to overcome some challenges, but we're pleased to have restored the structural integrity of the canal, ensured its long-term stability and protected the embankment from future erosion.

"Thankfully, all that hard work has paid off, the repairs have been completed, and navigation has now re-opened for boaters."

Engineers installed dams to allow the repairs to take place. (Credit: Canal & River Trust)

Engineers rebuilt the canal by lining the bed with around 150 tonnes of clay before compacting it to make sure it is watertight and the damaged wall which channels a stream under the canal was also repaired.

Metal trench sheeting was also installed along a 12m section of the canal wall to strengthen it and around 40m of new fencing and hedging have also been put in along the towpath.

The towpath along the canal is also reopen. (Credit: Canal & River Trust)

On the day of the incident the emergency team from the Canal & River Trust moved around 15 boats away from the affected area, carried out a fish rescue and installed temporary.

Since then the charity's engineers created a repair design, and agreements were secured with several third-party landowners to access the remote rural location between Bridge 51, Cowley Bridge and Bosley Lock 12.

A 400m-long metal track and ramps were then laid to allow vehicles and machinery to safely gain access and excavate the damaged towpath, embankment and canal bed.

Ramps were laid to allow for machinery to access the Macclesfield Canal. (Credit: Canal & River Trust)

Opened in 1831 the Macclesfield Canal runs 26 miles, from Marple in Cheshire to Hall Green, near the northern end of the Harecastle Tunnel, with 12 locks concentrated in a single flight at Bosley. It was one of the last narrow-gauge canals (7ft wide) to be built.

Simon added: "We know how important the Macclesfield Canal is to so many people and we would like to thank everyone, especially boaters and the local community, for their patience and support whilst these works have been carried out."