KEIGHLEY'S MP swapped the often-choppy waters of Parliament for a calmer environment at the weekend.

John Grogan enjoyed a two-hour trip aboard the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Society's floating museum, Kennet.

He joined fellow society members on Saturday as the boat made its way through his constituency, from Silsden to Riddlesden.

Mr Grogan chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group for inland waterways.

"Amongst other things the trip enabled John to see for himself progress with the ongoing upgrade to the canal towpath into Silsden," said Colin Thunhurst, a society trustee.

During the trip, there was also a presentation to mark the recruitment of the society's 200th member, William Jowitt, from Silsden.

He received a copy of the book The Leeds & Liverpool Canal, by society president Mike Clarke.

Kennet is currently moored at the top of the Bingley Five Rise Locks and will provide the launch activity at the town's canal festival this Saturday.

It will make its way down the locks at 10am and will then be open to the public between 11am and 4pm.

The boat features a wealth of material about the canal system, the locks and their operation plus the boats, their loads and the people that lived and worked on them.