Embankment of 18th-century canal in Cheshire collapses after flooding

Engineers are assessing the scale of damage to a canal built more than 250 years ago after flood waters caused a dramatic collapse of part of its elevated embankment in Cheshire.

The Bridgewater canal, which was previously used to transport coal but is now a leisure waterway, caved in near Dunham Massey, in the first major breach of the waterway for 54 years.

Drone footage showed the collapse of the human-made embankment that carries the canal 12 metres (40ft) above the River Bollin at one point. Witnesses said the collapse looked like a bomb had gone off.

A sewage treatment works run by United Utilities at Dunham Massey was inundated as canal waters deluged the land near the village of Little Bollington. The company has been contacted for comment.

The collapse is another example of the significant threat to homes, businesses and national infrastructure from increased flooding as a result of climate change.

Cheshire police evacuated properties after the collapse and a section of the M56 had to be closed.

The canal is owned by the Bridgewater Canal Company Ltd. The chief engineer was on site on Thursday to assess the scale of the damage with the police, fire service and Environment Agency officials.

“It looks like a bomb has hit it,” said Daniel Kaye, who was walking his dog at the time of the collapse.

“As I was walking along the towpath, I was thinking the canal does not normally flow like this and the level was a lot lower than normal. Then I could hear running water like a waterfall. I know the River Bollin runs underneath and thought that must be flowing really heavy then,” he told the Manchester Evening News.

“Then, as I carried on walking, I could see how it had come in on itself. Where the steel supports were for the canal groundwork, the embankment had just collapsed. I could see a tree had fallen down and the footpath had disappeared.”

The Canal and River Trust charity said: “The breach illustrates the vulnerability that all canals and infrastructure of this age face due to climate change and why we all work so hard to keep these national treasures open and safe.”

Cheshire police appealed to the public not to attempt to visit the damaged area. Ch Supt Alison Ross said: “My officers have been working throughout the night to ensure residents in the affected area are kept safe. So far today we have had numerous members of the public attempt to visit the damaged canal. We have put a number of road closures in place … and we’d ask that members of the public respect the closures for their own safety.”