The county’s canals are set to benefit from £1bn-plus boost from the Government.

The funding injection paves the way for a new trust to be formed aimed at improving waterways in England and Wales.

The new charity – The Canal and River Trust – replaces British Waterways and has been nicknamed ‘the national trust’ for waterways.

Environment minister Richard Benyon, MP for Newbury, recently visited Marlborough, where he was shown the fate of the River Kennet, which has been dry for long stretches upstream of the town.

The minister officially launched the new charity on Monday while visiting Freeman’s Lock on the Wiltshire-Berkshire border to view the ongoing £140,000 refurbishment of the lock gates.

The trust will follow the lines of the National Trust and it intends ‘to harness the support of thousands of supporters and volunteers’. This has already been in practice in the case of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, because much of the work which made the once-redundant waterway come to life again was carried out by volunteers.

Defra – the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – has committed what it is calling a property endowment of £460m and funding of £800m over the next 15 years towards the upkeep and preservation of the waterways network.

Mr Benyon said: “The Canal and River Trust will be a national trust for the waterways, maintaining and restoring 2,000 miles of heritage sites, wildlife habitats and open spaces so we can all enjoy them for generations to come. Bringing our waterways into the Big Society puts decision-making into the hands of the thousands of people who cherish the waterways near their homes.

“Our £1bn investment will get this new charity off to the strongest start possible, and let local communities and volunteers shape the future of our world-famous waterways.”

The new body’s chairman of trustees Tony Hales said: “In the 20th century the network was saved from destruction by committed waterway campaigners, volunteers and staff.”

He said the canals and waterways would be held in trust “as a national treasure and a haven for people and wildlife”.