A WONDERFUL wet summer roadshow with a special safety message was in Burnley at the weekend before heading to Blackburn yesterday.

The ‘canals on tour’ events across the 226 miles of waterways in the North West of England started on Friday at Friday Barrowford Locks in Colne.

On Saturday it moved on to Vanguard Community Centre, Burnley, from where people could have a canoe paddling tasting session on the town's famous 'straight mile' of the Leeds/Liverpool Canal.

On Sunday the Canal & River Trust's interactive pop-up roadshow moved to Lower House Lane in Burnley.

Yesterday (MONDAY) is came to Blackburn Locks in Blackburn

Between Friday July 21 and Monday July 31, the Canal & River Trust is taking the major summer event to 11 popular hotspots along its waterways in Lancashire, Merseyside and West Yorkshire.

It is aimed at helping communities learn about their local canals and rivers and how they can enjoy them without danger over the summer.

Its safety message has been backed by Mel Goodship whose 17-year-old son James drowned in June 2014 while swimming with friends in Foulridge Reservoir.

She said: “James used to mess around in the water with his friends; he was a strong swimmer so we just thought he’d be fine.

"We had never sat our children down and explained the dangers of the water, I didn’t really know what they were myself.

"The shock of the cold water paralysed his muscles, took his energy and took his life. If you’re thinking about getting into any stretch of water which isn’t supervised, please don’t.”

Each events runs from 10am until 2pm and offers a unique range of activities including fishing taster sessions, walking tours and canoe tasters, to children’s activities and ideas for days out across the North West waterways.

To help visitors cool off there are free ice-creams, deckchairs to chill out in and a paddling pool filled with some of the unexpected hazards you could find in a canal.

Tony Entwistle, development and engagement manager for the trust said: “Our summer roadshow is a great one-stop shop for people of all ages to come along and find out about their local canals and rivers.

"Visiting your local waterway is a lovely way to spend a summer’s day, but when the weather warms people, especially youngsters, are jumping into the water to cool down and putting their lives at risk.

"An important part of our roadshow is educating people about the dangers of taking a quick dip and showing people how they can keep cool near waterways in other ways."