AN appeal has been made for photographic memories and anecdotes of Scotland's canals to help create a nostalgic online scrapbook.

British Waterways wants to hear how people remember the Forth and Clyde Canal which runs through Glasgow and the former Monkland Canal - which once stretched from Airdrie to Glasgow.

The move is to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the passing of the Transport Act which ensured the future of the UK waterway network.

British Waterways said the legislation turned the ailing canals into booming tourist traps which are now enjoyed by tens of thousands of people each year.

A spokeswoman said: "By the 1960s, commercial boat traffic on Britain's canals had all but collapsed.

"But encouraged by waterway enthusiasts and campaigning groups, Harold Wilson's Government recognised for the first time the important role that waterways had to play in tourism and leisure.

"The 1968 Transport Act secured the future of this valuable asset for future generations. In recent years British Waterways Scotland has reversed years of neglect and revitalised the canals of Scotland, transforming them into important national assets.

"It continues to develop the canals of Scotland into a thriving leisure resource for the people and visitors, bringing benefits to the communities through which they run."

There are 137 miles of canals in Scotland. They also include the Crinan Canal in Argyll, the Union Canal between Edinburgh and Falkirk and the Caledonian Canal in the Highlands.

British Waterways says it wants visitors old and new to contribute to the virtual scrapbook.

Richard Millar, British Waterways Scotland said: "We're calling on people to share their photos, drawings and nostalgic jottings of memorable day trips, holidays and visits to help us capture these moments in a giant waterway scrapbook."

Photos and memories should be sent to 40years of memories@waterscape.com.