THE new mayor of Bradford on Avon staked her place in history on Wednesday, when she handed over a petition to thank the Queen for the refurbished Kennet and Avon Canal.

Vicky Landell-Mills joined boats at Bradford Wharf and travelled up the canal bearing a petition signed by hundreds of the town's residents.

The ceremony was part of a huge celebration of the canal, culminating in a visit by the Prince of Wales today.

In 1956 a petition, signed by more than 20,000 people, was sent to the Queen, protesting about the proposed closure of the Kennet and Avon Canal.

The petition travelled by canoe along the length of the canal, picking up signatures from local authorities and dignitaries along the way.

Although much of the waterway was closed for years, the petition stopped the abandonment of the canal, and in the last 12 years a massive regeneration programme has been under way, using grants from local authorities and the Heritage Lottery fund.

To mark the completion of the work, the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust recreated the 1956 voyage with narrow boats sailing from Reading and Bristol to arrive simultaneously at Devizes today. The boats carried a loyal address to the Queen called a 'Declar-ation of Gratitude' and collected signatures along the way. Alan Sandall, a reporter who signed the petition 50 years ago, now a boat master and Canal Trust volunteer, put his name to the petition again this week.

Mr Sandall said: "As a reporter I did some of the last trips from Reading with people who demanded a right of way down the canal, which at that time was in a very bad state.

"I also travelled with MPs on an inspection trip which resulted in them approving the improvement works, so I have seen much happen on this canal."

Vice chairman of the west Wiltshire branch of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, John Maciver said: "Once the signatures are all collected, they will be bound together and given to the Prince of Wales as part of his visit."

Pupils from Fitzmaurice School presented Mrs Landell-Mills with their sheets of signatures on Wednesday.

Mrs Landell-Mills said: "It was a very happy event, and by taking part the children really picked up on the enthusiasm for the canal project.

"They seemed to have a lot of pride in this aspect of their town."