On the evening of Monday, May 25, Dulverton Leat ran dry.

The Dulverton Weir & Leat Conservation Trust said this was particularly disappointing given work had only recently done with Somerset West & Taunton Council on the leat, and there had even been recent excitement as otters were spotted swimming there.

The problem was simply that given the holes in the weir, the level of water in the river was too low to flow through the leat.

Therefore Somerset West & Taunton officers met on site on June 2 and within 24 hours had a team carrying out remedial repairs to restart a flow of water in the leat pending more significant repairs.

Philip Hull, trustee of Dulverton Weir & Leat Conservation Trust said: “This prompt action demonstrates the council’s commitment to sustaining the Dulverton Weir and Leat system and bodes well for future cooperation in saving this important medieval heritage asset."

Cllr Marcus Kravis, Somerset West & Taunton Council’s executive member for assets added: “The Council has a statutory obligation to keep water moving through the medieval weir and leat system and I am glad that we were able to move swiftly to restore water flow on this occasion.

"We value this historic waterway and are proud to be working together with the trust on longer-term plans to restore restore this ancient waterway to its rightful place as part of Dulverton’s heritage”.."