In pictures: Canal bursts to leave giant hole

22 December 2025

News image — Two narrowboats became trapped in the hole which emerged in the early hours of Monday

PA Media A canal boat in a large muddy hole with other boats seen in a drained trench on either side — Two narrowboats became trapped in the hole which emerged in the early hours of Monday

A giant hole has emerged in the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire, leaving boats trapped.

Engineers from the Canal and River Trust said it appeared an embankment had failed, causing water to rush into a nearby field - and the canal bottom to fall away, leaving a trench.

Two narrowboats were said to have sunk into the hole shortly after 04:00 GMT, with one witness estimating it to be 15ft (four metres) deep.

PA Media A large muddy hole, seen from the air, with two canal boats in it and a large brown pool of water at the top of the image — Engineers said water drained out into surrounding fields

PA Media An aerial view of a grass-edged canal with a number of narrowboats in it and two at the bottom of a large muddy hole, with a large brown body of water to the right hand side — The Canal and River Trust said the embankment had been inspected before the breach and there had been no cause for concern

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service A canal boat in a large muddy trench and another in the background hanging over the edge of the hole, with a wet, grass-edged footpath running alongside — Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said it had to move more than a dozen people to safety

An empty canal with a black narrow boat in the foreground, with the end hanging over the edge of a hole and a deeper, muddy trench further along — One narrow boat was left hanging over the edge of the hole

PA Media An aerial view of a muddy trench with three long narrowboats in it and a large breach in the side, with brown water flowing into a nearby field — The Canal and River Trust said the embankment was man-made and had been there for more than 200 years

PA Media An aerial view of a large body of brown water alongside a large muddy hole with three narrow boats seen in it — The trust said it would seek to return water levels either side of the breach as soon as possible

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Canal and River Trust

Whitchurch

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