The Canals and River Trust has issued a statement following reports that the Ashton and Rochdale canals in Manchester city centre are at extremely low levels.

Local residents and passers-by say they began noticing the problem in the last week - although New Islington resident Cameron, who lives on Ashton Canal, says the issue goes back further.

"For about two weeks the water level has been slowly going down," he told the M.E.N. "We normally love sitting outside and watching the boats go by but we haven't seen one for about three weeks.

"The canal is a real attraction, we often get people coming to take pictures of it from Great Ancoats Street bridge - but now it's an eyesore, it's just grim.

"It's barely a foot deep in the middle and you just see glass, bikes, trolleys and bottle

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