THE last skipper to navigate a boat through a Worcestershire canal has become the first to sail through restored locks almost 75 years later.

Tom Mayo says he brought a cargo of wheat down the Droitwich Junction Canal in 1929.

Last Friday, he was part of a crew aboard steam-powered Phoenix, the first boat to traverse the restored locks.

The £100,000 restoration project has been funded by an Inland Waterways Association (IWA) grant. The lock chambers and side ponds have been renewed and new paddle gear and gates fitted.

The work was carried out by Droitwich Canals Trust volunteers and the IWA's Waterway Recovery Group, assisted by British Waterways.

The unveiling was attended by Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff, who is vice president of the trust, representatives from Droitwich's twin town Bad Ems, Worcestershire County Council and Wychavon District Council.

"Canal locks are of particular historic interest as they exhibit the operation of a sophisticated water conservation system," said Tony Harrison, chairman of the IWA's restoration committee.

"The restoration has retained the historic features, providing replica fittings where originals have been lost, and maintained a high standard of heritage brickwork."

The event marked the start of Droitwich's Golden Jubilee celebrations, which also included a four-day beer and wine festival, a rock 'n' roll night and a water festival.