IT took more than five years to build and is almost a mile in length.

Back in 1987, the public were able to have a look inside one of the most impressive pieces of 18th century canal engineering, the Foulridge Tunnel.

A large dam had been created at one end of the tunnel effectively blocking off the water. Engineers were brought in to examine the semi-circular construction and several ‘open days’ were held when visitors could see inside and walk along a stretch of the canal bed.

Initially it had been proposed that a series of locks would take the canal through Foulridge to Burnley but those plans were revised.

There was no towpath through the tunnel with barges initially being ‘legged through. The bargees would lay on their backs and effectively walk their craft through.

In 2017, the Canal and River Trust allowed canoes to use the tunnel.