TAKE a walk behind the scenes of a Middlewich canal lock this weekend, as the Canal and River Trust open up a drained chamber to the public.

Lock 72 of the Trent and Mersey Canal, behind Middlewich Community Church, is undergoing £66,000 of restoration work and will be the first of 12 winter open day events across England and Wales.

Visitors will be able to walk along the original 200-year-old brickwork on Saturday, November 26, between 10am and 4pm.

The work involves highly skilled craftsmanship, with the bottom lock gates currently being replaced.

The chamber will also be cleared of silt and brickwork, with masonry repairs also to be carried out before the lock re-opens before Christmas.

Ged King, regional construction manager for the Canal and River Trust, says: “It’s a busy lock and last year it saw over 5,038 boats travel through it – an increase of over 100 on the previous year.

“We are providing a unique chance for visitors to venture to the bottom of the drained lock chamber, letting us showcase the work the Trust does by explaining about the repair and restoration works we are doing here.

“The lock gates are unlikely to be replaced again for another 25 years, so this really is a rare opportunity for visitors.”

The winter maintenance works are part of essential repairs undertaken by the Trust across the country.

Last entry to the lock will be 3.30pm, with the given postcode CW10 0JG. Sturdy footwear is a must.