A project to restore a canal has been completed five months ahead of schedule.

Volunteers from the Shropshire Union Canal Society gathered for a work party to finish works on the Montgomery Canal.

This marked the completion of all channel and towpath restorations for the original scope of the Rural Prosperity Fund grant.

Volunteers gathered for a work party (Image: Supplied)

Project manager Tom Fulda said: "Given the torrential rain and flooding during October it was a pleasant relief to have dry, calm, mild weather for the entire work party, albeit overcast.

"Once again, substantial progress was made."

The work party focused on three main activities: completing the towpath and bank works in Phase 1A (wharf area), continuing channel profiling in Phase 1B beyond the area already completed, and hedge laying to start the winter environmental works.

A total of 65 metres of towpath and 60 metres of bank were completed in 1A, with the entire length of towpath dressed with a wear course of quarry dust.

Practical completion for the funded scope is for the two completed sections of channel to be in water by the end of March.

They are 'filling of their own accord' with rainwater, and it is expected that the stop planks by Crickheath Bridge will be cracked open in January or February to equalise the levels with those in the now navigable Crickheath Basin.

Further along the site towards Schoolhouse Bridge, work continued to profile the channel.

In the area worked, no lining and blocking was required, and an 'impressive' 70 metres is now complete.

Just beyond this area in the direction of Schoolhouse Bridge, hedge laying picked up from where work had finished last winter.

Over two days and with a number of ‘new hands,' 23 metres was completed.

Other highlights from the work party included the grand draw for the Restore the Montgomery Canal! raffle officiated over by Councillor Joyce Barrow.