A thirty six mile long waterway linking England's two great rivers, the Severn and the Thames, is in line for a £700,000 investment from Gloucestershire County Council.

The Cotswold Canals is two connected Gloucestershire waterways, the Stroudwater Navigation and the Thames & Severn Canal.

The £700,000 investment over four years from 2019/20 will help to link the restored section of the Stroud Water Canal to the national canal network and is part of a proposed £19million Heritage Lottery Fund bid towards the project, led by Stroud District Council.

The Stroudwater Navigation was built between 1775 and 1779, from Framilode, on the banks of the River Severn, to Wallbridge, Stroud.

Completed restoration work includes six miles of canal, upgraded towpaths for walker and cyclists, construction of eleven bridges and reinstatement of ten locks.

The council investment will help unlock further funding to reinstate the canal between the A38 and Meadow Hill, a new public right of way, five new bridges, eight new or restored locks and the rerouting of an oil pipeline.

County Councillor Nigel Moor, cabinet member for fire, planning and infrastructure said: "Our canals have huge potential to be used and enjoyed by our communities. Not only does the council have a responsibility as a local landowner, but also has a long and well established stewardship role in protecting the interests of the canal, its users and environment."

Cabinet will be asked to agree the investment on Wednesday March 29.