NARROW boats will have to share Foulridge Tunnel on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal with canoes and kayaks from now on after it was opened to unpowered crafts.

A ceremony attended by canoeists and kayakers from far and wide saw the cutting of a ribbon at the Barrowford entrance to the mile long tunnel.

Amongst the around 50 who then paddled through the dark to the other side of the 200 year old tunnel were Andrew Wellock and Andrew Lambert, from Ilkley, who are in training for a 162 mile paddle from Liverpool to Goole in aid of Cancer Support Yorkshire.

Others who attended the ceremony were young people involved in the Desmond Family Canoe Trail project, the Canal and River Trust, which looks after the canal, and Pendle Paddlers.

The paddle though the tunnel took about 20 minutes, after which most stopped off for refreshments at Cafe Cargo.

Richard Parry, chief executive of the Canal and River Trust, who cut the ribbon before paddling himself through the tunnel, said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being part of the celebrations for the opening of Foulridge Tunnel to canoeists for the first time. Paddling along the mile-long tunnel, now the longest in the UK open to canoeists, has been a wonderful experience and I’m delighted that the Canal and River Trust has been able to make this possible for others to enjoy.”

The opening of the tunnel is part of the charity’s ambitious plans for the UK’s first coast-to-coast canoe trail – the Desmond Family Canoe Trail.

Chantelle Seaborn, waterway manager for the trust, who also took part in the mass paddle, said only experienced canoeists should enter the tunnel alone. “At one mile-long, Foulridge Tunnel is an exceptionally long canal tunnel to canoe through and safety is of paramount importance. Entry is via a traffic-light system into the tunnel and we ask that canoeists adhere to the simple, yet effective safety precautions we have provided. These include: checking the tunnel is clear of other craft before entering, wearing a forward facing bright white light and a personal floatation device with attached whistle and bring an airhorn."

Foulridge Tunnel is a highlight of the Desmond Family Canoe Trail that will stretch for 162 miles, connecting Liverpool to Goole along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and Aire and Calder Navigation. Funded by the Desmond Foundation, the trail also has the support of British Canoeing and Canoe England.

Rob Hardy, Desmond Family Canoe Trail project leader added: “Making it possible for canoeists to access to Foulridge Tunnel has been a major step forward in developing the coast-to-coast trail. It’s been great day to have so much support from the canoeing community for the opening and bring together young people and seasoned paddlers for this special occasion and launch the opening as part of Go Canoeing Week.”

After successfully negotiating the tunnel, Andrew Lambert and Andrew Wellock joined the Pendle Paddlers on a 16 mile kayaking session to Skipton, including the lock flight at Bank Newton.

Andrew Lambert said: “We are grateful to the Pendle Paddlers for allowing us to join them and it is a shame we weren't able to take part in the full event but our training schedule had to see us head north from Foulridge with the day's target being Skipton. This was our first training session that included locks along the route, with a long walk down the Bank Newton flight."

The two Andrews' Coast to Coast Challenge, which follows the course of the Desmond Family Canoe Trail, begins in Liverpool on July 9.

The men are due to paddle through Foulridge Tunnel again on the fourth day of their trip, on Wednesday, July 12.

They will then stay overnight in Skipton, where they plan a charity fundraising event at the Woolly Sheep Inn.

The men chose to support Cancer Support Yorkshire because of their own experiences with the charity.

Donations and pledges have seen the pair well on their way to the £5,000 target they have set themselves. They are hoping that companies associated with the canal will sponsor the event with promotion for the companies through advertising on both the kayak and the support vehicle which will be driven by another friend David 'the golfer' Waterhouse.

The Andrews' plan to record their trip on Facebook at facebook.com/2men1boat/ Donations can be made online at: justgiving.com/fundraising/Andrew-Lambert9

Foulridge Tunnel.

Foulridge Tunnel took five years to build and was completed in 1796. It was a major construction achievement, making the canal navigable from Leeds to Burnley.

In 1912, a cow fell into the canal at the southern entrance and swam the mile-long tunnel before being pulled out at the other end, where she was revived with brandy by drinkers in the nearby Hole in the Wall pub.