VOLUNTEERS are needed to complete the ‘First Furlong’ on the Lancaster Canal.

Lancaster Canal Trust started work at Easter 2018 to reline the 'First Furlong - the dry length of the canal between bridge 172 at Stainton Crossing and bridge 173 at Sellet Hall.

A waterproof membrane, protected by a geotextile layer on either side, will be further protected by nearly 24,000 concrete blocks, which are being being laid by hand by volunteers.

Recently a milestone was reached by the trust, whose main objective is to restore, and reopen to navigation, the length of the canal from Tewitfield, just north of Carnforth, to Kendal.

"Exactly a year ago work began on the restoration of the Stainton Aqueduct on the Lancaster Canal," said trustee David Haigh.

"Last week the Waterwitch (a purpose-built 28-feet trip boat) once again crossed over the aqueduct. This has been an impossibility since December 2015 when the elegant, Grade II-listed Stainton Aqueduct, near Sedgwick village, was hit by a seven-feet-high wall of floodwater as Storm Desmond battered Cumbria."

The Waterwitch cruises the canal from Crooklands most weekends in the summer months, taking the public on a leisurely ride along the navigable Northern Reaches of the Lancaster Canal.

Mr Haigh said the crossing of the aquaduct was fitting in the year of the bi-centenary of the canal opening through to Kendal.

"The Waterwitch can now reach the end of the navigable northern end of the canal," he said.

"Hopefully, by next spring the boat will also cruise along the First Furlong. The monthly volunteer work party is currently laying the last blocks in the canal bed. Then they plan to re-water this section once it has been checked for leakage and the bund separating the First Furlong from the watered Northern Reaches will be removed.

"We desperately need helpers to finish of the final touches on this first furlong. No skills are required, just a great deal of enthusiasm, a pair of wellies/workboots and working gloves. You never know you might enjoy it so much you may wish to become one of our regular volunteers.

"Please if come along on October 26-27 and lay a block or two or pull up some vegetation on the far bank before replacing the earth on this bank."

Those unable to help physically can help by buying a block. They cost a pound each and can be bought from the trust's website www.lctrust.co.uk