TOWPATHS in Middlewich should be ship shape in time for the Folk and Boat Festival thanks to a £185,000 renovation scheme.

The project has upgraded 1.7km of the path along the Trent and Mersey Canal between Croxton Trail and Town Bridge.

This includes a new section of towpath built along the canal at Croxton where walkers have previously been diverted along the busy road before rejoining the trail.

New surfacing and safety barriers are also scheduled for completion by the first week in March.

Nicola Lewis Smith, external funding manager for British Waterways, said: “This length of towpath is already well used by communities and visitors alike, and links into the vision for this part of Cheshire as a sustainable heritage nature trail.

“The finished product will be a fully accessible stretch of towpath improving access to events like Middlewich Boat and Folk Festival, which played host to 200 boats and saw 20,000 visitors enjoying the occasion, last year.”

Funded by Middlewich Vision working with Congleton Borough Council, Waste Recycling Environmental Limited (WREN), North West Regional Development Agency and Cheshire County Council, the £185,000 scheme is the latest in of a series of keynote projects designed to improve the Weaver Way.

The project, which is hoped will boost tourism in Middlewich, was welcomed by John Gittins, board member of Weaver Valley Regional Park and chair of the Cheshire & Warrington Local Access Forum.

He added: "The upgrading of the towpath along the Trent & Mersey Canal between the Croxton Trail and Town Bridge marks a very significant development in the evolving story of access within the Weaver Valley Regional Park.

“For local people and visitors alike this is a great addition to this major project in Cheshire.”