PART of a canal towpath through a historic area will be closed occasionally in the next 18 weeks as work takes place to improve it.

The upgrade in Burnley's Weavers' Triangle aims to boost walking and cycling.

The 1.2 mile section of the towpath on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in Burnley currently gets difficult to use as it is narrow and worn becoming muddy in wet weather.

The work is part of a wider scheme paid for from the government's Levelling Up Fund to provide a high-quality walking and cycling route across the town.

The towpath will remain generally open during the work, which is expected to last 18 weeks, although there may be some disruption and a need for temporary closures.

Joe Hildred, enterprise manager for the Canal & River Trust, said: “Research shows that spending time by water is good for our physical and mental health and these improvements will make it easier for people visiting, living and working in Burnley to enjoy the canal.

“As a charity we’re incredibly grateful for the funding that makes these improvements possible for the benefit of the local communities the canal runs through.

" It’s great to see how much local people value the canal: their support is vital so that we can continue to protect and preserve our historic waterways.”

Burnley Council's chief operating officer Lukman Patel said: "This is a well-used section of towpath but in parts it is narrow and worn, and can get muddy in wet weather.

“This work will sort that out and make it an even more pleasant walk through the historic heart of Burnley, taking in part of the Straight Mile, the recently renovated Finsley Gate wharf and the Weavers' Triangle.

"It will also create a much-improved 'green' off-road route between Manchester Road railway station and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) campus at Sandygate.