Canal boats stop in Llangollen

It gave way near Hampton Bank at Bettisfield in north Shropshire, on the Welsh border, on Tuesday.

The water level has dropped by a foot and that section of the canal has been blocked off.

British Waterways has said it could cost up to �500,000 to repair the canal and it is unlikely to be fully reopened until Easter.

David Baldiccino from British Waterways said: "The alarm was raised by a boater who had seen water running in the wrong direction.

Busy waterway

"Water was flooding out into adjacent farmland and the canal collapse looks to be the size of a house which is what we are looking to repair."

A temporary dam is likely to be installed with planks on either side of the waterway until permanent repairs can be carried out.

Llangollen canal is nearly 200 years old and one of the busiest waterways in the country.

It is part of the Shropshire Union canal, which runs from Nantwich to Llangollen and stretches 47 miles.

In August, a �1.9m 32-berth marina was opened to ease congestion on the busy Llangollen canal.

British Waterways, who funded the scheme along with Denbighshire County Council and the Welsh Development Agency, started work on the project last December.

The job has entailed widening the canal's existing channel to build the new mooring basin.

In July, Harrison Ford took a break from Hollywood to travel along the Llangollen canal.

The Indiana Jones star and his partner, Ally McBeal actress Calista Flockhart, travelled to the region and attended the Llangollen International Eisteddfod.