Whitchurch Rotary Club has once again opened the waterways to those around the area who may always have the chance to experience them with their annual canal boat trips.

Rotarian and former Whitchurch councillor Chris Smith was on hand to oversee the passage of a record 215 passengers over the course of a week on the Lyneal Trust's Shropshire Lady boat.

The trips, opened by Whitchurch mayor Councillor Tony Neville and Chris Symes, chair of Lyneal Trust, ferried those who are disabled and even took a group of schoolchildren, with Mr Smith delighted with how it went.

"We hired two boats which are specially built, including ramps and lifts for wheelchair users, to provide access for people with a wide range of disabilities," he said.

"Our youngest passenger group were primary school children from Borderbrook School, Tallarn Green. For this group we provided a floating classroom with a lesson on canal history, bolstered by having the historic horse drawn Saturn, once used extensively for the Whitchurch cheese trade, moored in the canal arm.

"In the feedback, one child commented that it was the best school trip they had ever had. We believe our oldest passenger was aged 94, in a group of residents from a care home.

"Our most challenging group were children with a wide range of problems, including complex neurological and physical disorders, Down syndrome, autism and behavioural difficulties, who could not be educated in mainstream school.

"The sense of trust and responsibility they gained from being able to help steer the 18 ton, £130,000 boats was quite unique.

"We ran a total of 24, two-hour passenger carrying trips. There was lots of positive feedback from our passengers, a common theme of which was the superb facility offered by the boats, especially The Trust's new day boat, The Shropshire Lady.

"The bright feel and the superb view from a seated position were widely commented on."

The Rotary's costs were covered by 28 businesses from in or around Whitchurch as each of them sponsored a boat trip, and who in their turn promoted the work of Rotary and The Lyneal Trust.

Mr Smith added: "We are very grateful to them, to the Whitchurch Waterway's Trust for allowing us to use their moorings and to Chemistry Farm for allowing us access down to the towpath for our minibuses."