British Waterways (BW) has started the phased reopening of a 60-mile (96.6km) section of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, which closed on 2 August due to 'drought conditions'.

A stretch of canal between Lock 51(Barrowford, Lancashire) and Lock 85 (Wigan, Greater Manchester) is due to open today (17 September), after BW confirmed reservoir levels were at a "sufficient" height. The remaining 20-mile (32.2km) stretch between Barrowford and Lock 31 (Gargrave, North Yorkshire) is scheduled to open on 22 September, although restrictions will remain on all lock flights.

BW operations director Vince Moran said: "The significant increase in rainfall over the last few weeks has made it possible for us to reopen this section of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. "While the canal has been closed we have been able to bring forward a number of projects which would otherwise have been carried out during the Winter, including lock gate replacements and repairs and leak prevention works."