STRANDED!

STUCK... the narrow boat was left stuck in a muddy bog after the canal quickly drained.

Canal narrowboat left in a muddy bog
A NARROW boat was left high and dry when a series of errors turned the Huddersfield canal into a muddy bog.

This (see picture) was the sight at lock 31 in Diggle as the basin quickly drained, leaving the boat stranded.

Warnings have now been issued to canal users to stick to guidelines and be wary of wasting water, which can have serious knock-on effects.

The events unfolded during a busy day on the canal, which saw a small cabin cruiser travel up and down a part of the canal, wasting a large amount of water.

While this was happening another private boater had left the paddles — used to fill and empty a lock — open at five locks in a row, rapidly leaking water and seeing the canal drain in under two-and-a-half hours.

A spokesperson for British Waterways said: “Water is the most precious resource on the canals and this is particularly true of the 200-year-old Huddersfield Narrow Canal, which has a very large number of locks in a very short stretch.

“Draining the canal can have a serious impact on wildlife, waterway users and water resources. Most boaters understand this and are very conscientious about saving water, we do occasionally however have inexperienced individuals coming a cropper.”

The stretch of the Huddersfield Canal is particular vulnerable to errors as it boasts 42 locks in just 17km of waterway.

The photo was snapped by walker Bryan Gallagher who witnessed the bizarre turn of events.

He said: “There were people stood on the banks just watching, there was nothing we could do.

“At first I thought it had been drained and there was going to be dredging done but then I realised the narrow boat was stuck.”

Waterways staff reset the locks and spoke with boaters to explain the problem, before helping to free the stranded boat – but it took three days to get the water levels back to normal.

The Huddersfield Canal Society have also issued a word of warning.

Administrator Dr Bob Gough explained how a limitation of how much water is allowed to be pumped into the canal means the number of boats using it each week must be controlled.

He said: “Everyone must be responsible and try to pull together. If the paddles are left just slightly open it can lower levels and have a knock-on effect on everyone.”