THE Prince of Wales paid tribute to the volunteers whose enthusiasm and dedication led to the saving of the Kennet and Avon Canal from dereliction and closure when he visited the Caen Hill flight of locks in Devizes on Friday.

The prince flew in by helicopter from Bradford on Avon where he had been opening a new canal shop, and transferred to a car for the few hundred yards from the landing site to the area at the top of the flight where a marquee had been put up and bunting hung out in preparation for his visit.

The royal visitor was in the area to help celebrate the fruits of more than 40 years of effort to renovate the canal, which was in such a dangerous condition in the 1950s it was threatened with closure. Its entire 87-mile length from Bristol to Reading is now navigable.

A successful bid for Heritage Lottery funding in 1996 netted the Kennet and Avon Canal Partnership, comprising British Waterways, local authorities and the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, a grant of £25 million towards the £29 million for the renovation work, which was completed in December last year.

The 29-lock flight, one of the biggest in Europe, is among the wonders of the West Country.

After being presented to Devizes Mayor Paula Winchcombe, Brian Oram, the chairman of the Kennet and Avon Canal Partnership, and Chris Mitchell, the regional manager of British Waterways, the prince boarded the Primrose narrowboat, owned by Jane and Steve Clements of Swindon.

Mrs Clements is a member of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust.

The prince was taken on a quick trip around the lock pound, taking shelter under an umbrella when one of many of Friday's showers hammered down.

He told the hundreds of local people who had come to see him, including pupils from nearby St Peter's School: "I congratulate all those who were responsible for bringing this wonderful canal back to life again. It is a great example of what can be done with enthusiasm, commitment and dedication.

"Much has been achieved since The Queen officially reopened it to navigation in 1990.

"I congratulate all involved in achieving something remarkable by bringing back to life this wonderful piece of 19th century engineering."

The prince flew by helicopter from Devizes to the Crofton pumping station, near Marlborough, landing about a quarter of a mile from the pumping station that stands at the highest point of the 87-mile long canal.

It houses two of the oldest steam engines in the world dating from 1812 and 1845, whose job was to maintain the water level in the canal.

Prince Charles showed a keen interest in the work of the volunteers who helped rebuild the engines.