CANAL officials are seeking enthusiastic individuals to help supervise teams of volunteers involved in the regeneration project.

Dozens of people are needed to manage work including vegetation clearance, footpath reconstruction and even lock chamber clearance.

No experience is needed but supervisors must be organised and willing to help out free of charge.

Jon Pontefract, volunteer manager, said: "There will be people out there who want to get experience of management or organising, particularly in the voluntary field.

"They may be school leavers or they may be people who have got a degree at university and might want to enhance their CV."

Stroud District Council must use volunteers to both meet a condition of the £11.9million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and also to keep the project within budget.

Supervisors are initially needed over the next few years to help oversee phase 1A of the regeneration between Ocean at Stonehouse and Brimscombe Port.

All volunteers will be trained, especially in health and safety and the use of tools, and can choose to work for anything between a few hours to a whole day.

Two or three supervisors will oversee parties of about 10 to 20 volunteers working on specific projects.

Officials also also seeking individuals or groups to volunteer to join the parties.

Volunteers can suggest ideas for projects or even request to work on specific parts of the restoration.

"It is generally good fun and most people get a sense of achievement at the end," said Mr Pontefract.

For more information or to apply, contact Mr Pontefract on 01453 754287 or jon.pontefract@stroud.gov.uk