A STRETCH of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, near Abergavenny is closed for six weeks after it cracked due to bad weather.

The 60-metre long part of the embankment on has 'slipped' away from the canal lining between Govilon and Llanfoist following the recent persistent rain.

Glandwr Cymru, the Canal and River Trust in Wales, has closed the section after detecting the movement as part of its regular inspections.

The Trust immediately drained water from the section to reduce the pressure on the affected area and has stabilised the slippage, allowing teams to begin work to repair it.

The work is expected to take six weeks to complete, closing the canal for boats until mid-March. There will be towpath closures during periods of the work, with local diversions.

Nick Worthington, waterway manager at Gland?r Cymru, said: “We have been monitoring the slippage since it was detected just after Christmas, and immediately took action to reduce the pressure on the embankment. It’s almost certainly a product of the intense wet weather we had, which saturated the ground.”

“It essentially looks like a long crack along the edge of the canal. Now the slippage has stabilised, we can get on with the job of repairing it.”

Mr Worthington said it is too early to predict the cost of the repairs at this stage, but that it is another reminder of the work and investment that needs to go into keeping this important piece of Welsh heritage in top condition.

He added: “The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal is undoubtedly one of Britain’s most popular, beautiful and well-used waterways, attracting thousands of visitors and supporting local jobs. It was a major feat of engineering when it was built over 200-years ago, as it follows the side of a mountain, something that means it continues to pose challenges to this day. That is why we inspect it so regularly for exactly these kind of problems.”