CANAL lovers in Somerset are marking 30 years since the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal reopened.

A flotilla of up to 12 boats will mark the occasion on Saturday and Sunday this weekend, along with a celebration at the Somerset Boat Centre on the evening of June 8.

Organised by the Somerset Navigators Boat Club, the boats will travel along the canal from Bathpool to Maunsel Lock and moor at the Somerset Boat Centre.

Boats should be leaving Bathpool (TA2 8BZ) at 10.30am and travelling slowly to arrive at Maunsel Top Lock, North Newton, TA7 0DH at around 3pm on both days.

There will be a party to celebrate the anniversary, including a competition to judge the boats that have been best decorated for the occasion. The celebration will be raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Connecting the towns of Bridgwater and Taunton, the 14-and-a-half mile waterway, cared for by Canal & River Trust, boasts nearly two centuries of history.

Like many canals, it was once an important trade route that transported coal and iron from South Wales and agricultural produce out of the area until its commercial importance ended.

It discovered a new role as a water supply for the population of Bridgwater, a function it still provides today, but fell into decline before being painstakingly restored by Somerset County Council and British Waterways – now Canal & River Trust. Cutting through the Somerset countryside, it is now a popular spot for people to come and enjoy spending time by water and is a valuable home for wildlife.

Mark Evans, regional director at the Canal & River Trust, said: "This year marks a special milestone for the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal as it reaches the 30th anniversary of its reopening. Throughout history the canal has brought trade and prosperity to Somerset and today continues to play an important role for people and wildlife.

"It's fantastic that the Somerset Navigators Boat Club are going to be celebrating the anniversary with this event. It'll be a fantastic sight to see the flotilla cruising along the canal.

"The canal is the most southern on our 2,000-mile network across England and Wales. As a charity, our work today is focused on maintaining it for future generations, so they too can enjoy the benefits it brings, and we are committed to keeping canals such as the Bridgwater & Taunton alive."

Canal & River Trust work all year round to maintain the canal for navigation by repairing lock gates, managing vegetation, and assisting the Environment Agency by using the canal to help manage flood water on the Somerset levels.

The canal was originally opened in 1827. It features seven locks and the unique Somerset Space Walk featuring a scale model of the sun at Maunsel Lock, with planets set along the towpath for six miles in both directions, demonstrating the scale of the solar system.