THE Cotswold Canals Trust (CCT) is putting out a call out for volunteers to help with its plans to transform a stretch of the Cotswold canal network near Cirencester.

The charity has already recently completed massive renovation work on the canal network between Saul to Stonehouse as part of its aim to restore the canals between the rivers Severn and Thames.

Now it is now working on renovating a section spanning from the Gateway Centre off the Spine Road to Latton Basin.

To help return the canal to its former glory, people are needed to help with essential duties such as dredging the water, trimming hedges, creating reed beds and relaying damaged towpaths.

Volunteers taking part in the scheme will be taught new skills on site and in free workshops such as bricklaying so they can help with tasks such as building lock walls.

John Allan, a director of the CCT, said: “People who help will learn life skills, vocational skills. The key objective is that we get enough people returning here.

The CCT would be particularly be interested in volunteers who already have bricklaying skills as they are currently rebuilding a bricked bridge that ran over the Latton Basin section of the canal that was destroyed in the 1970s.

To volunteer contact John on 07798684092.