MID-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff has angrily denied claims that the re-opening of the Droitwich canals is under threat by Conservative plans to sell off British Waterways assets.

Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors from Droitwich reacted with anger to comments by Shadow Chancellor Oliver Letwin that a Tory Government would make several billions from the sale of "a huge pile of assets" from the British Waterways Board.

They said it would have a "devastating" effect on the £11m Droitwich Canals Project, which has been 10 years in the making.

But Mr Luff has disputed the claims, saying the Conservative party was "absolutely committed" to continuing the renaissance of the country's canal network and its policy was not to see any canals closing.

"We just don't believe British Waterways should risk taxpayers' money by becoming a major property speculator," he added.

Mr Luff said a serious area for concern was the group's acquisition of Wood Wharf in London, which is not part of the canal system.

And he said British Waterways should focus greater attention on development schemes such as the one at Droitwich, and less attention on commercial property speculation.

Chairman of the Droitwich Canals Trust Margaret Rowley has also previously said that British Waterways was playing a major part in the restoration plan and was likely to manage the restored canals.

And British Waterways spokesman Jonathan Ludford said £25m of income from investment property was spent on the care and upkeep of our canals and rivers.

"Conservative plans to sell-off the estate would require the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to immediately increase its current funding of British Waterways from £60m to £85m per annum," she said.

"The property portfolio is an essential and integral part of our strategy to become largely self-sufficient, not only for its economic potential, but also because it enables us to deliver social and recreational benefits to communities."