Road over canal closed due to waterway damage

A road over a canal bridge has been closed due to damage to a section of the waterway.

The Canal and River Trust said a channel taking excess water around Lock 38 on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal had suffered damage along its route below Cannock Road in Penkridge, Staffordshire.

The trust, which maintains the waterway, said it asked for Cannock Road to be closed as a precaution.

Staffordshire County Council said it expectedpedestrians - but not vehicles - to be allowed over the bridge from Friday.

A spokesperson for the trust said: "The channel is likely to be part of the original James Brindley canal build, so dates back around 250 years."

They added that while the damaged channel passed beneath both the old lock cottage and the road, there were no signs of harm to the highway, although trust engineers would be on site again to carry out a detailed inspection.

The council said that signposted diversions were in place, and any canal user affected by the situation should contact the trust.

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