AN East Anglia-based integrated support and construction services company has secured an �80million canal maintenance contract.

AN East Anglia-based integrated support and construction services company has secured an �80million canal maintenance contract.

May Gurney won a competitive tender to maintain and improve the canals and rivers of British Waterways for the next four years, with a possible two-year extension. The contract is estimated to be worth around �20million a year.

The work will be across approximately 80 to 150 projects each year, covering British Waterways' 2,200 mile network in England, Scotland and Wales. It includes repairs to 200-year-old locks, bridges, aqueducts, weirs, reservoirs, tunnels, towpaths, embankments and cuttings.

Jim Stirling, technical director at British Waterways, said: “British Waterways cares for the third largest collection of listed structures in Britain and our waterways are today enjoying a renaissance in popularity and use.

“Keeping them open and working, however, takes a year-round programme of care, maintenance and investment. This contract with May Gurney continues to support our in-house team and ensure that we continue to maximise the money that we have available to spend on waterways upkeep.”

Philip Fellowes-Prynne,chief executive at May Gurney, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this contract with British Waterways. It demonstrates our success at building strong long-term customer relationships and cements our position as a leading provider of maintenance and improvement services to the public sector.

“Moreover, it testifies to the strength of our sales pipeline that, together with our record order book of �1.25 billion, gives us much confidence for the future.”