Droitwich's Barge Canal has welcomed its first boat for around 80 years, following the completion of work to restore the Worcestershire waterway.

The restoration of the historic canal forms part of wider efforts to create a 21-mile (33.8km) "cruising ring" around the county, with just the short link of the Junction Canal left to open in 2011. Both the Barge and Junction waterways have been restored as part of a £12m project funded by a range of organisations, including the Heritage Lottery Fund, Advantage West Midlands and local authorities.

British Waterways senior regeneration manager Jason Leach said: "It's especially rewarding to see all the diverse efforts of groups and individuals coming to fruition after decades of planning and spadework. "This £12m project to restore the Barge and Junction Canals will unlock the entire ring, a green waterway corridor for communities and a magnet for visiting boaters."