Canal fun ready to start

Friday 29th August 2008, 11:50AM BST.

Tony Rynell gives a wave while trying out his craft in Welshpool ready for the festival Thousands of tourists are expected to visit Mid Wales and Shropshire over the next few weeks to help celebrate a national event and boost funds for the Montgomery Canal’s restoration.

Monty 08 is being organised to raise and maintain the profile of the Montgomery Canal, highlighting restoration work to open the whole canal to navigation.

Work on the 37-mile stretch from Welsh Frankton to Newtown has been ongoing for more than 40 years. Restoration work is currently taking place to extend the route towards Welshpool. But the eventual aim is to reopen the canal all the way to Newtown.

Activities for Monty 08 include a sponsored walk along the length of the canal. But the two main events will be a rally in Welshpool, tomorrow and Sunday, and a rally at Maesbury between September 5 and 7.

Alan Wilding, Welshpool Festival chairman, said about 25 boats would be on show on the canal this weekend. He said: “The 25 or so craft at the event in Welshpool will feature a variety of methods of propulsion including traditional horse drawn, steam, electricity and Solar Flair – a solar-powered boat built by a Tony Rynell of Somerset.”

There will be free entry to the Maesydre sports ground at Welshpool. The event will start at 10.30am on both days. For details visit www.monty08.com

View more: Mid Wales news, Oswestry news.