PLANS to re-open Droitwich's old canals have been praised by the Secretary of State.

Margaret Beckett paid tribute to the partnership of Worcestershire organisations campaigning to raise £9.5m to transform the old canals, during questions to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

"The important thing is that, where possible, we act at the point of endangerment, or preferably before, rather than try to revived a situation that we have let go beyond repair," she said.

Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff also praised the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, one of the local organisations involved in the project, for its "intelligent, pragmatic and sensible approach" to threats to rare species along the canal.

"I am proud both to be a member of the Wildlife Trust and a vice-president of the Droitwich Canals Trust," he said.

"Both these local organisations deserve praise for working together so constructively to achieve something so important for Droitwich and the whole county."

The project, also involving British Waterways, Wychavon District Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund and Advantage West Midlands gave outline approval for a £7m grant.

The project includes building a marina and a 21-mile cruising ring linking the Birmingham-Worcester canal and the River Severn.