Shropshire canal trust centre target is given £32,000

But the Shrewsbury and Newport Canal Trust needs to raise £500,000 before December so it can receive a £1 million Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

The £32,000 was given to the trust by the Wappenshall Pledges Appeal, taking the current total up to £130,000.

Now the trust is appealing to people to help raise the much needed £370,000 or the lottery fund will lapse.

The money will be used to convert historic warehouses at Wappenshall Junction, near Preston upon the Weald Moors, into a visitor centre and community hub.

Bernie Jones, Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust chairman, said: "I have been overwhelmed by the response to our Wappenshall Pledges Appeal, and over £32,000 has been pledged and some members have been kind enough to even send a cheque.

"This support is doubly important, since the Heritage Lottery Fund set a lot of store by the members of the trust, that doesn't merely say they are in support but they are actually willing to put their hands in their pockets to fund the project.

"This wonderful involvement, by so many people, has sufficiently impressed the Heritage Lottery Fund that we have been able to negotiate an extension to the date by which we need to raise the remainder of our match funding.

"We must close this gap by no later than December 15, or that £1 million grant will lapse.

"We are doing all different kinds of things to raise the money and I am appealing to members to do what they can to help."

The Norbury Canal Festival will also run from May 2 to May 4 at Norbury Junction on the Shropshire Union Canal between Newport and Stafford, where the event will help raise funds for the trust's appeal

The event is organised by the Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust in conjunction with the Norbury Junction Inn and Norbury villagers.

Mr Jones, added: "The canal festival is always a really great weekend of entertainment for the whole family.

"We have more on offer than ever before with more stalls and activities being organised all the time.

"It's a great way to find out more about life on the waterway and canals and support our appeal to breathe new life into Wappenshall Junction at the same time."

Contact Bernie Jones on (01743) 709601 or email bjones@sncanal.org.uk for details.