SPARKS are flying at Crofton pumping station near Marlborough as repair works on the world's oldest working beam engines continued this week.

Specialists from H A McEwen Ltd are hard at work this month to repair the coal-fired, 22 tonne Lancashire boiler, which needs to have its corroded rivets, a mechanical fastener, cut out and replaced.

The historic boiler, which needs to then be pressure tested and the brickwork restored ready for the spring opening, generates the steam that powers the 205-year-old engines that pump water from Crofton Water up to the Kennet & Avon canal's highest level – the section between Crofton and Burbage, which was above any reliable local water source.

Together, Pewsey, Marlborough and Devizes area boards, along with generous donors and volunteers, raised more than £45,000, over the last six months or so, to make this project possible.

"It has been a wonderful team effort from our 60 volunteers and all those that chipped in to allow this hugely important machine to carry on," said Peter Turvey, chairman of the Crofton branch of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, which owns and operates the pumping station.

"It is a unique piece of Georgian machinery and one that we treasure. It really is a survivor. Something that was an important part of the industrial revolution, is still working today.

"I cannot wait to see our wonderful old engines working under steam again this spring.

"The building work is going along nicely. They are removing the corroded parts of the boiler and are now trying to replace them, just as the boiler inspector said. The conditions are quite cramped but they are doing a fine job."

Originally the repair works were going to cost £27,500 but as it needed a specialist team to fit it, as it was no ordinary job, but the undaunted locals still raised an extra £18,000, much to Mr Turvey's delight.

"The generosity people have shown has been magnificent," he said. "We get around 17,000 people coming to Crofton every year and 7,000 of them or so come to look at these historic machines so to have them back up and running is very important to that."

During the appeal, as an incentive to get more people to donate more than £10, the volunteers made a Crofton Boiler Bear, which proved hugely popular.

The traditional Easter steaming weekend is scheduled for Saturday, April 15 to Monday, April 17.

As an incentive to donate to the appeal, the team are giving people the chance to take away a Crofton Boiler Bear when donating £10 or over as well as staging a grand prize draw.