Everything we know so far about the Llangollen canal collapse in north Shropshire

An emergency operation is underway in a rural hamlet in Shropshire after a canal collapsed, causing flooding to homes - here’s what you need to know.

A stretch of the Llangollen Canal at Hampton Bank, near Ellesmere, collapsed on Thursday (November 12) due to the structural failure of a culvert, which is the pipe that carries water beneath it.

The incident led to the Canal and River Trust scrambling contractors to the scene to deal with the aftermath, as it began its own investigation into exactly what caused it.

It is the second major canal collapse in Shropshire in less than 12 months, after a stretch of the canal in Whitchurch breached in December 2025.

Although the initial damage to the canal occurred on Thursday morning, there was more emergency activity and panic overnight, after the culvert on the bank of the canal deteriorated, which led to some residents being told to leave their homes.

“They said [last night], ‘we don’t want to worry you, but can you get out the house,’” said Gillian Webster, 80, who is one of the victims of the flooding caused by the canal collapse.

She and her husband, John Webster, 82, have lived in the same property on the bank of the canal for 28 years, and something like this has never happened before, they said.

The flooding has destroyed all their nearly three-decade-long work to the home they love.

This is because, at one point, their home was a foot under water, and the damage it caused means that they will be in need of temporary accommodation for up to six months.

Gillian said the ordeal had been hugely upsetting.

She said: “It’s traumatic - well it is to us because we had a lovely home and we haven’t got it anymore.”

John added: “At the end of the day we’ve done a lot of improvements here. We’ve extended it, improved it, and done all sorts of things for when we get old, which we are now. Now this has happened.”

In the late afternoon on Friday, members of the Canal and River Trust and its infrastructure partner Kier were still at the scene of the collapse in Hampton Bank.

In a statement, a Canal and River Trust spokeswoman said: “We are responding to an incident on the Llangollen Canal at Hampton Bank, Shropshire, which happened on the morning of Thursday 12 November, following the collapse of a culvert, a pipe that carries water beneath the canal.

“Teams from the Canal & River Trust and our infrastructure partner, Kier, are on site. They have closed the affected section of canal and are carrying out emergency works to slow the flow of water into a neighbouring field.

“We know this will be a distressing time for those affected. Alongside Shropshire Council, we are liaising directly with the residents affected by the incident, offering support and assistance while work continues to bring the situation under control.

“Pumps have been brought to site to maintain the flow of water around the breach, helping to keep boats downstream afloat whilst also ensuring the continued movement of fresh water for public water supply.

“Investigations are underway to establish the possible cause of the collapse, and we will provide further details in due course.”