A GROUP of Middlewich canal enthusiasts have celebrated their 100th volunteer canal work party, after forming in 2014.

The Shropshire Union Middlewich Branch Adopters (SUMBA) marked the occasion on Saturday, November 19, stopping for a special cake before carrying on with a vegetation clearance at Aqueduct Marina in Church Minshull.

Formed in April 2014 as a response to a call by the Canal and River Trust, the group entered the record books by adopting a five and a half mile stretch of canal – the longest adopted stretch in England.

Volunteers maintain the Shropshire Union Canal Middlewich Branch from Barbridge Junction to Church Minshull. Most adoption groups look after a mile or less.

In two and a half years volunteer numbers have swelled to more than 50, with members regularly turning out to help with maintenance and repair projects.

Work has included towpath maintenance, vegetation control, painting and reparing locks, helping boaters and playing fruit trees and shrubs.

Their ‘Clean for the Queen’ event in March included a massive 12-mile litter pick from Calverley to Middlewich, with 35 volunteers taking part. A hedge-laying project saw the group named runner-up in the Canal and River Trust Living Waterways Award – a national prize.

SUMBA organiser Graham Russell said: “Our volunteers have donated a total of more than 4,900 hours to improving the canal.

“The response to our initial call was amazing and the existing group far exceeds our original expectations.

“Now to be celebrating our 100th working party is a great achievement and a source of pride for all our volunteers who have worked so hard with us over the last two and half years.”

Wendy Capelle, local waterway manager with the Canal & River Trust, thanked the group for their tremendous contribution.

She said: “The SUMBA group adoption is a fantastic example of how volunteers play a vital role in improving the canal environment.

“Hundreds of walkers, boaters, anglers, cyclists and joggers have benefitted from their hard work and now have an improved experience along the Middlewich Branch thanks to the SUMBA volunteers.”