A canal tunnel travelling between Diggle and Marsden is set to close later this year.

The Canal & River Trust has announced the final day to travel in Standedge Tunnel this year as Wednesday, November 1.

Those looking to travel through the tunnel after this date will have to wait until next year.

This year, passage has been possible since March 27, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays – with boaters having to book at least three working days in advance.

Boaters travelling from Diggle to Marsden must be ready to travel for 11.30am on the day of passage, with volunteers helping boaters through the three-mile-long tunnel.

Channel 5 presenter Helon Skelton caused a small controversy earlier this year, when she erroneously said the tunnel started from ‘Diggle in Lancashire’.

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Diggle was previously part of West Yorkshire, but is now considered part of Greater Manchester, in the borough of Oldham.

The people of Saddleworth still regularly celebrate their links with Yorkshire on Yorkshire Day.

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Work to construct the tunnel, which is the country’s longest, deepest, and highest, started in 1794, and took 17 years to complete.

The crossing links up Huddersfield with Ashton on the canal network. As the tunnel didn’t have a towpath for horses to tow the boats through, fully laden boats had to be ‘legged’ through – with two men lying on their backs pushing their legs against the tunnel walls.

The tunnel closed in 1944 but was re-opened after restoration in 2001. It is now considered one of the top tourist attractions in the area, and includes a visitors’ centre on the Marsden side, with family boat trips, food, and walks all available.