CONSERVATIONISTS and environmental enthusiasts are hoping the potential sale of a plot of local rural woodland will not hinder their work to revitalise the old Oakham Canal.

Members of the Oakham Canal Green Corridor Project are working to create an environmental and leisure green corridor for the benefit of local people and wildlife along the route of the canal.

They have commented on news that part of the route is now up for sale.

A spokesperson for the project said: "You may have seen signs advertising that the woodland at the far end of Oakham Canal has been put up for sale by the landowner, St John & St Anne, a charitable almshouse provider in Oakham and Uppingham.

"While the sale of the woodland could have a detrimental effect on our work since public access is currently granted under a permissive footpath agreement, we have been in conversation with St John & St Anne and they are doing their best to ensure that public access to the footpath can continue under new ownership.

"We are hopeful that a new owner will be willing to enter into a new permissive footpath agreement with us and we can continue offering the same full, well-maintained route along the canal as we do now."