Places of reflection: Enchanting pictures of British canals in winter

The 200-year-old canals of England and Wales have been captured in a new light

Pictures of frosty towpaths and trendy locks are among the winners of a contest that sees the very best of the 2,000 miles of canal in England and Wales captured.

The Canal & River Trust ran the winter waterways photography contest in celebration of the nation’s 200-year-old canals.

The trust hoped that the contest would encourage people who don’t often visit their local waterways to take a stroll and snap some pictures.

“There’s something about being by the water that is good for body, mind and soul: our research shows that it makes people less stressed,” says a spokesperson from the trust.

Here The Independent has compiled the winning pictures in the gallery above.