CHILDREN from Our Lady of the Angels primary school visited the canal near their school in Cwmbran this week to learn about the restoration of locks.

Over three years, volunteers will help to restore eight locks at the site near Ty Coch, learning heritage skills and construction techniques, which should help them find jobs in the future.

A class of 26 Year 3 pupils came on the trip, wearing high-vis jackets and hard hats. They were the first pupils to come on a trip to the locks along this stretch of canal.

They were able to meet volunteers and enter the lock chamber, where water will rise and fall.

They will also make a film about their experiences.

Heidi Carey, senior project officer for the canal regeneration, said: "The aim is to engage the children in what we are trying to achieve so that future generations will become interested in the canal."

Staff working on the project hope the trip will teach them about local history and show them the importance of protecting the locks.

Tom Maloney, who runs education in schools for the Fourteen Locks project, showed the children the locks. He said: "It's really important for them because they have been on a trip to the navigable part of the canal near Brecon, so they will be able to compare."

The locks are being restored as part of the Waterworks Heritage lottery funded project.

For more information on the Fourteen Locks project, visit www.fourteenlocks.co.uk