Vandals force closure of canal in Dunstall after opening locks

The yobs opened a series of locks on the Birmingham Old Main Line canal just off Gorsebrook Road in Dunstall, causing an onslaught of water to travel down the route flooding a towpath, road and a nearby business.

As a result part of the canal wall at lock 20 has partially collapsed which has led to it being shut for boaters.

Dean Davies, waterway manager for the Canal & River Trust said: "It is extremely upsetting that a very small minority set about vandalising the canals.

"The canal has been around for 200 years so it really is a shame that these vandals don't treat their local waterway with some respect. Having such a large amount of water travelling in one go down the locks has caused a lot of damage to one of the lock which will cost us around £80,000 to repair and will mean the canal will be closed for several weeks right in the middle of the holiday boating season.

"As a charity we would rather spend money on improving the canal so everyone can enjoy it rather than having to clean up the mess created by some local yobs."

Security firm Thompson AVC was also hit by the flooding at the weekend and bosses there say it is the second time in a week that yobs have targeted the canal.

The firm, whose car park backs onto the canal, said three vehicles were flooded with one left with water as high as the gearstick.

Its archive room was also flooded meaning the firm's paperwork was also damaged.

Stacey Bonser, accounts assistant, at the firm said: "We have now got a car park where we no longer feel safe in leaving vehicles overnight."

The stretch of canal affected is just over two miles from the junction with the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal to the Wyrley and Essington Canal.

Bosses at the Canal & River trust say it will be closed until July 12 at the earliest.

Angela Rushbury, a 52-year-old night carer for Wolverhampton City Council, was outraged by the vandalism. She walks along the canal for an hour every day from her home in The Downs, Dunstall Hill. "To cause this sort of damage is diabolical. Initially I thought a boat had gone into the wall. I think the culprits should be made to suffer for what they have done."

Paul Crowley, aged 53, lead buyer for Alstom Transport at Oxley, keeps fit by walking along the canal to catch his train home to Birmingham. He warned the canal would not be ready for boats when the wall has been fixed because the amount of algae has notably increased since that stretch of water had been shut off.

"If the algae is not removed before the boats return, it will get caught in their motors. That is going to be another cost."

Pallet maker Kelvin Edge, 32, of Pendeford, also uses the canal as a healthy commute between work and home. He said the damage was not an isolated case.

"This stretch of the canal has been emptied quite a few times over the last five years because of vandalism."