Divers have gone underwater to carry out repairs to a listed lock on the River Avon near Bath.
Weston Lock is one of 104 locks between Bristol and Reading that form the Kennet and Avon Canal, and is almost 300 years old.
One of the lock paddles – a trapdoor used to drain water from the lock – was temporarily removed so a maintenance crew could make repairs before divers reattached the paddle in place.
Rob Labus, Contracts Manager at the Canal and River Trust, said: “The lock is a remarkable feat of engineering and we hope that the repairs carried out will make the lock easier to use.”
Divers also conducted an inspection to plan future maintenance on the lock and removed weeds and other debris from the water.
The Canal and River Trust said disruption to boaters had been minimised by the use of divers and the lock only had to be closed for a short time.
Mr Labus said: “Weston Lock is almost three centuries old and is still used daily by boaters on the waterway.
“It is vital that we carry out repairs and inspections like this to ensure the navigation continues to be available to boaters and to benefit local communities.
“This diving operation is cost-effective and saves the time needed to interrupt shipping.”
The repair of the paddle on the lock gate is intended to make the lock more comfortable for boaters. The lock is one of the deepest on the canal and can lower or raise boats over 2.7 metres (9 feet) deep.
