TWO YEARS after the Monmouthshire-Brecon canal burst its banks at Gilwern and there have been mixed fortunes for two businesses who reply on the canal for survival.

Alasdair and Sarah Kirkpatrick, who own Beacon Park Boats Ltd at Llanfoist Wharf, were forced to shut down following the breach on 16 October 2007.

A sixteen-mile stretch of the canal between Llanover and Llangynidr was sealed off after 35,000 tonnes of mud and water poured onto the road below.

British Waterways began a huge repair programme, expected to cost about £15million and take up to four years to complete.

The couple, who took over the business in 2001, had to close for 18 months and re-opened in March this year.

They received compensation from British Waterways a year later.

Alasdair,43 and Sarah 44, said the summer was a success with bookings from Canada and Europe.

"Bookings are going extremely well and already looking good for next season," said Mrs Kirkpatrick.

"We are now ahead of where we would have been last year and its fantastic," she added.

In contrast Peter Young, who has run the Waterside Rest café at Goytre Wharf for the past six years, has decided not to renew his lease following a review of the business over the last six months.

"Tourism destinations that are controlled by government bodies such as British Waterways need additional support and I feel that was not given due to a lack of government funding," said Mr Young, 49.

"Visitor number have been steady but not what they should be and people are spending less," he added.

He also runs The Heritage café at the Blaenavon World Heritage Centre and will continue to run his Waterside Mobile Bar and catering business from the cafe.

No one from British Waterways was available to comment.