British Waterways (BW) has announced that it has been forced to shut a 60-mile (96.6km) section of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal due to "some of the worst drought conditions" for a century.

Nearly half of the 127-mile (204.4km) canal, which is the UK's longest man-made waterway, was closed on 2 August between Wigan, Lancashire, and Gargrave, North Yorkshire, as a result of falling water levels. Restricted lock schedules have been implemented on the remaining part of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, while towpaths along the entire length of the waterway will remain open.

BW operations director Vince Moran said: "Canals depend upon a complex system of reservoirs and rivers to remain topped up with water however, the lowest rainfall in almost a century combined with high temperatures has left the regions' water supplies at record low levels. "We anticipate the restrictions continuing through the current drought but will reopen the canal as soon as sufficient water supplies become available."

Image: The Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Bradford