British Waterways is investing more than £500,000 this winter to undertake vital maintenance work on the historic Regent's Canal.

The Regent's Canal and towpath, which runs alongside Victoria Park, from Mare Street to Old Ford Lock, in East London, will be closed until 26 March to enable essential works to be carried out on the canal, including stabilising the waterway wall. The works team will also take the opportunity to remove some of the rubbish that has been thrown into the canal, the draining of which has revealed everything from motorbikes to tyres and shopping trollies.

British Waterways' waterway manager, Simon Bamford said: "It's great to see that this historic waterway is getting the care and attention it deserves. Over a hundred thousand people enjoy the Regent's Canal every year, for boating, walking, cycling, jogging and just getting away from the hustle of the city streets for a while." The canal was originally constructed between 1812 and 1820 and runs east to west across London, from Limehouse to Little Venice, where it links to the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal that travels north to Birmingham.

Pic: Limehouse Basin, Regent's Canal