A GUN has been found at the bottom of the dredged canal in Middlewich. 

A large part of the embankment above the aqueduct which carries the Shropshire Union Canal over the River Wheelock, collapsed through the night last night. 

Today, the Canal and River Trust have been on the scene and have had to dredge a long stretch of the canal through Middlewich. 

As a result a member of the public spotted a gun on the bed of the canal. 

Police have now recovered the gun. 

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: "Police were called at 1:22pm to Westbury Close, Middlewich, after a member of the public spotted a gun at the bottom of the canal which has drained after an embankment collapsed overnight.

"Police have taken the small gun from the scene to be made safe. We have not been able to determine, at this stage, whether the firearm is real or not as it is rusty and silted up.

"We would like to thank the members of the public who notified the police."