Boat hung-up in L&L lock

A NARROWBOAT was hung-up in a Johnson's Hill Lock near Chorley on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, as the pound emptied.

The local newspaper reported that it was the rear (bottom) gates that failed, allowing the water to rush out of the pound after the front gate was opened, with the bow of the boat being caught on the cill as it was leaving the lock and its stern on the bottom of the lock, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Leak like a sieve

Joe Felling tells us that the bottom gates were in bad condition and 'leak like a sieve', and that the boat was caught on the cill as it was trying to leave the lock, as his picture shows, that could account for the short pound emptying quickly.

This occurred on Friday, with the canal being closed whilst Canal & River Trust staff were alerted, water allowed in the lock to refloat the boat.  No one was injured, with the man and woman on board able to get out.  Staff from a nearby boatyard helped.