THE restoration of a 200-year-old canal culvert has been completed by the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust thanks to a £10,000 donation from the Yorkshire Building Society.

The building society made the donation during its 150th anniversary last year. The trust was one of 15 chosen by he public to receive the boost from the Society's Lasting Legacy Fund.

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust used the money to repair a 200-year-old brick culvert under the restored canal at Pewsham that had collapsed.

Kath Hatton, fundraising director for the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, said: “We were thrilled that our project was chosen to be funded as part of the Yorkshire Building Society Lasting Legacy Fund.

"We are really grateful for everyone who took the time to vote for us and now that the culvert is finished we can begin the next phase of restoring the canal between Pewsham and Lacock. This will have a real benefit to our community in an area of such natural beauty.”

The restoration ceremony was attended by Michelle Donelan MP, volunteers from Wilts & Berks Canal Trust and colleagues from Yorkshire Building Society.

Miss Donelan, said: “It is great to see the hard work put in by volunteers has achieved this important step in restoring the canal between Pewsham and Lacock. I hope local people continue to support the canal trust in every way they can, and as a mutual organisation owned by its members it is particularly fitting that Yorkshire Building Society supported this financially, as it will only be by working together that our local heritage of waterways can be restored to their former glory.”

A specially created memorial brick was the final piece to fit into place and Lee Hathway from Yorkshire Building Society was given the honour of completing the task.

Mr Hathway, manager at the Society's Bristol branch, said: “We were delighted to be able to support the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust project through our Lasting Legacy Fund. To be asked to put in the final brick was a really special moment for me. It was also humbling to see all the great work that has been done by the Trust volunteers in restoring this amazing feature.”