This morning (Tuesday) such was the low level of water above Shardlow Lock on the Trent & Mersey Canal, that boats were unable to move.
Before 9am the disabled trip boat, Serenade was seen firmly grounded above the lock where it was unable to leave the bankside.
Queuing below lock
Other boats were queuing below the lock as there simply was not enough water for them to proceed above the lock, with no few turning in the space below the lock and heading back towards the Trent.
Though we were told that Canal & River Trust had been informed about this on its emergency telephone number early in the morning, there were still boats turning back at 12 noon.
LATEST:
Boats started coming through after 3pm with boaters telling that the water level had been restored.
None come through
It is not known how many boats were stuck above the next lock at Aston, or if the Trust is in fact dealing with the matter, after noon when this was published, none had come through to Derwent Mouth Lock..
It seems most strange at the lack of water, as the six broad locks are all fed by the Trent, and so no pound should suffer a shortage.
"Bloody useless!"
Speaking to boater Mick Dainton.who had been waiting below Shardlow Lock, but returned to Derwent Mouth, he told us:
"I'm absolutely fed-up! We have been held-up I have calculated nine times already this year by lock and water failures, it has never been anywhere near as bad in the 16 years we have been boating. Canal [& River] Trust is bloody useless!"