Floating tractors are being deployed on Chester's Shropshire Union Canal in a bid to remove around 30 tonnes of weeds across the region's waterways per week.

National waterways charity Canal & River Trust is spending more than £150,000 on an extensive weed removal programme across the North West's canals, as longer growing seasons drive increasingly rapid growth of invasive and nuisance aquatic plants.

The charity says managing weed on its historic waterways is becoming more challenging and costly, but is essential to protect wildlife, maintain navigation and safeguard precious water supplies.

During the summer months and early autumn, aquatic weeds like duckweed, floating pennywort and azolla grow extremely quickly.

These fast-growing plants spread quickly through the canal network and, when warm temperatures and sunshine create ideal growing conditions, can rapidly form a thick green carpet across the water's surface.

Carried naturally by the movement of water, they can quickly establish themselves over large stretches of canal.

Left unchecked, the weed causes problems for boats, rowers and anglers, while also starving underwater plants of light and reducing oxygen levels needed by fish and other wildlife.

This can have a damaging impact on species including kingfishers and otters that depend on healthy canal habitats.

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To help manage aquatic weeds, Canal & River Trust has deployed a fleet of amphibious weed harvesters, known as Truxors, that cut and collect dense vegetation.

These floating tractors are removing around 30 tonnes of weed per week from waterways across the region, including Shropshire Union Canal, from Chester to Tilstone, and Ellesmere Port to Backford.

So far, the charity has spent more than £150,000 on the programme, but that figure will increase with further weed clearance works scheduled to start.

Steve Maguire, contracts and compliance manager for the North West at Canal & River Trust, said: "This year alone we've already spent more than £150,000 removing weed from North West canals, and the programme continues to grow.

"As a charity, finding this additional money isn't easy, but keeping canals open, protecting wildlife and maintaining reliable water supplies for boaters and local communities makes this work essential.

"Our canals and rivers are wonderful places for people and nature.

"With hotter summers becoming more common, investment in maintaining these historic waterways is becoming increasingly important if they are to continue delivering benefits for wildlife, boating and communities long into the future."