Canal centre fired

ARSONISTS have fired the Fourteen Locks Canal Centre on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal.

This occurred early last Sunday morning with damage to the walls and roof of the building and extensive smoke damage to the interior, Alan Tilbury reveals.

Two fires

Fire crews discovered two separate fires when they arrived at the scene around 3am on Sunday morning. Gwent Police are now investigating the attack, that is being treated as arson, with officers studying CCTV that was in operation.

The centre attracts many thousands of visitors a year to the 14 locks, and it is not understood why it was targeted, but Fourteen Locks Canal Centre's Education Officer, Tom Maloney, told that they would not be deterred by the attack, and were still there to welcome visitors the following day, and explain what had happened.

The centre is run by the Monmouthshire, Brecon & Abergavenny Canal Trust, and was reopened in 2008 following a refurbishment.