CANAL boaters have been left stranded for Christmas on either side of the Harris Lock on the Kennet & Avon Canal, after it was closed for immediate repairs.

The repairs to Lock 16 near Semington Dock could take up to eight weeks to complete when work starts in the new year.

It has left canal boaters who were hoping to pass through before the Caen Hill locks flight closes on January 7 unable to do so, with boats heading down to Bradford on Avon and Bath also stuck fast.

One boater is understood to have been trying to get home to Newbury for Christmas and the New Year but will now be unable to pass through until mid-March.

Katherine Daniels, who with her husband Brian was hoping to travel to Pewsey, said they would now have to moor up on the Trowbridge/Hilperton side.

“We came up on Sunday from Bradford on Avon. We knew they were shutting the locks on January 7 but were hoping to get through. Now we can’t.

“If it’s not safe to go through then it’s not safe. I would rather be safe than sorry,” said Mrs Daniels, 53.

Ian Williamson, 49, the owner of Semington Dock, said: “I have got half a dozen boats which I’m hoping to get out by the end of this week.

“After that, it looks like I’m going to have no more work until mid-March. It’s going to take at least two months to complete the repairs to the lock.

“We are a small business and can’t survive without income but we will still be here come Easter. I’ll probably put my staff to work on some repairs and maintenance work to the dry docks.”

Following an inspection on Monday (17 December) it was found the bottom approach chamber wall support in Harris Lock has collapsed, making it too dangerous to use.

The lock will remain closed until repairs have been completed as part of the Canal and River Trust’s scheduled £445,000 winter repairs programme for the Kennet & Avon Canal.

The lock was due to shut from January 7-25 but its condition is far more serious than was first thought and repairs will take longer to complete.

The Canal & River Trust said engineers may have to rebuild the downstream approach walls and canal invert to the lock.

The lock will stay closed until the repairs are completed.

The lock will remain closed until repairs have been completed as part of the Trust’s scheduled £445,000 winter repairs programme for the Kennet & Avon Canal.

Harris Lock was due to shut from January 7-25 but its condition is far more serious than was first thought and repairs will take longer to complete.

The Canal & River Trust said engineers will have to rebuild the downstream approach walls and canal invert to the lock.

A spokesman said: “We have found the bottom approach walls to the lock have moved further. There is now a risk that the towpath lock approach wall could give way, particularly if it were to be hit by a boat.

“As a result, having exhausted all options to find a solution, we’ve unfortunately no choice but to close the lock to boat traffic.

“This closure will continue until the planned repair work begins in early January 2019. We are reviewing designs and will revise the scope of the project accordingly.

“We don’t take the decision to close the lock to boat traffic lightly, but the safety of our boaters and towpath users is paramount.We will continue to work with those boaters affected by the closure.”

“We would advise anyone who was planning to use the lock prior to the planned closure in January to review their movements.”