The Canal & River Trust is offering a different perspective on a familiar local beauty spot this month.

The body is inviting people to take a look below the water line at the brand new lock gates and repair works at Seend Locks on the Kennet & Avon Canal.

The free family open day will be at Lock 17 of Seend Locks on Saturday, February 26 from 10am to 4pm.

A trust spokesman said: “As well as experiencing the drained lock, and seeing what is usually hidden under thousands of litres of water, there will be a chance to chat with the team about the challenges and rewards of protecting and preserving the 200-year-old canal.”

Caroline Kendall, the trust’s community engagement manager added: “The Kennet & Avon Canal is one of our best-loved waterways and, as guardians of this precious asset it’s vital that we keep it in the best possible condition.

“The Canal & River Trust is investing £125,000 in new lock gates and carrying out repairs at Seend to ensure the busy locks are ready for the main summer boating-season.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming people to our open day where there will be a chance to take a closer look at the new gates and also meet the team involved in the work.

“We know that being by water is great for health and wellbeing and we hope that enjoying a different perspective on a familiar stretch of canal will inspire visitors to come back again and explore more of the Kennet & Avon.”

Every lock gate on the Trust’s 2,000-mile waterway network is unique and the ones for Seend are hand made by specialist craftsmen and women at the trust’s workshop at Bradley in the West Midlands.

The gates, which each weigh over a tonne, are made-to-measure from green, sustainably grown oak with steel brackets to strengthen joints and make sure they last at least 25 years.

The flight of five locks, built near Seend Cleeve village, was constructed by renowned canal engineer John Rennie in the late 1700s.

This winter the Canal & River Trust is undertaking a £59 million major overhaul across the 2,000 miles of waterways in its care, as part of a five-month maintenance programme to canals and rivers across England and Wales.

Essential maintenance will include the replacement and refurbishment of worn-out lock gates and repairs to aqueducts, reservoirs, bridges and tunnels.