VOLUNTEERS from France, Canada and throughout the UK have been mucking in to help carry out vital repairs to the canal at Newport's Fourteen Locks.

Sixteen helpers signed up to take part in the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal restoration project, which is being run by Newport, Caer-philly, Torfaen and Mon-mouthshire councils, British Waterways and the Monmouthshire, Bre-con and Abergavenny Canals Trust.

The volunteers are regular participants in clean-up camps nationwide and have been put up in a church hall in Cross Keys and given fuel and tool expenses, as well as food. Risca rugby club has allowed them to freshen up after a hard day's work using their showers.

One hails from Canada, another from France and two are on the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme - but all are clearing scrub and rubbish, renewing gates and rebuilding the Cefn Lock wall.

They will continue until October under the supervision of Spencer Collins, director of the Midlands-based Waterways Recovery Group and at the beginning of November will hold a bonfire bash reunion with around 150 other volunteers.

Canals Trust chairman Chris Morgan said: "We hope to hold at least two camps a year as so much needs doing. The lock they are working on is the worst one and the work will carry on throughout the summer and we want to get it fully done by next April."

Once it is finished, the restoration groups want to see the lock system reopened by 2005 for day trips, holidaymakers and lock and water safety demonstrations for schoolchildren and the Newport to Cwmbran stretch reopened by 2009.

They are also awaiting news of their Lottery bid for funding to revamp the Four-teen Locks centre, which is run by the Canals Trust in conjunction with Newport city council. And Mr Morgan said the Trust was hoping to push the council to resurrect its plans for a new, purpose-built marina at Crindau, which would link to the canal and feature pubs and other businesses to generate funding for the scheme.