A STRETCH of the Trent and Mersey canal was closed last night after a large tree collapsed into the water, blocking the towpath.

The tree toppled into a section of the water at Weston-on-Trent, forcing British Waterways to shut the canal until further notice.

A spokesman for the company said a crane boat was currently on site trying to move the tree but, because of its size, he could not say when the canal would be cleared.

He added: "We have closed the canal for the foreseeable future and expect it to be shut for a maximum of three days, although we hope it will be opened again during that time."