Work is under way to improve the ageing locks on the historic Hertford Union canal in London’s East End.

The original hand-crafted oak gates at the beginning of the two-mile canal connecting the Lee Navigation with the Regent’s Canal by Victoria Park have been lifted out, to be replaced.

Dredging work continues this week with the 17ft-deep lock at Hackney Wick being emptied to carry out repairs and upgrading to the ancient mechanism which operates the lock.

The �90,000 work is due to be completed by March 2, part of British Waterways’ �50 million improvement programme started in October to replace 100 oak lock gates up and down the country to preserve the nation’s 200-year-old canal network for future generations.