Thatcham and Aldermaston among places to benefit from canal repair funds

Projects totalling more than £300,000 will be completed along the waterway, including repairing historic canal walls, locks and lock gates.
This includes locations across West Berkshire, such as Thatcham and Aldermarston, among others.
The stand-out piece of work will be carried out in January, when people will have the unique opportunity to walk inside a drained lock in Hungerford and experience a two-century old world that is usually hidden beneath the waterline.
This winter the trust is spending a total of £45 million to look after 2,000 miles of canals and rivers across England and Wales.
Chief executive of the Canal and River Trust, Richard Parry, said: “Every day thousands of people visit or cruise on our waterways without ever seeing all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes, and below the waterline, to look after this historic and remarkable infrastructure.
“This winter we are spending around £45 million on essential repair and restoration works and routine maintenance to our canals and rivers.
“By showcasing this work to the public we can give them a glimpse of the craftsmanship of the waterways’ original 18th Century design and the scale of the work we do to care for it.
“We hope this will inspire more people to get involved to enjoy and help support their local canal or river navigation.”
Pictured is Tyle Mill near Aldermaston.