THE WILTS & BERKS TRUST is having to have a bank repaired as water voles cause it to crumble.
They have effected nearly 900 feet of the towpath bank of the waterway between Kingshill and Westleaze, that was restored into water in the 1990s.
The bank is now leaking water in various places and the towpath is giving way as the water voles burrow under it, with it having to be closed at times whilst it is repaired.
Plugging various leaks
The trust's volunteers are working on plugging the various leaks in the bank of the canal and at present are on phase two of the repair using blue clay as a watertight fix to the leaking bank.
It being hoped that this will last for another 30 years.
At the same time the volunteers are working on a new habitat for the water voles that are a protected species.