Stunning aerial images provide a unique look at Warwickshire's canal network which is at risk of being 'lost' due to government funding cuts.

The photographs give a fascinating glimpse at the beautiful waterways which link the country together.

But there are fears the canals could become neglected or lost with the Canal and River Trust facing funding cuts of £300 million from 2027.

The trust says the cuts will impact their ability to maintain the nation's historic and picturesque canal network - putting it at risk of closure.

Photos taken from across the region, show some of the hidden gems which could be at threat in future.

The Canal and River Trust is facing major funding cuts (image via SWNS)

They include Hatton Locks, called 'the Stairway to Heaven' by boaters.

They were built wider than usual in Warwickshire to accommodate the growing number of cargo boats in the 1930s.

Other aerials shows Gas Street Basin, which is the heart of the canal network in Birmingham - a city which proclaims to have "more canals than Venice".

The famous RSC Royal Shakespeare Theatre can also be seen in the background at Bancroft Basin in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Bancroft basin in Stratford (image via SWNS)

The Canal and River Trust say there are more boats on the canal network than at the height of the Industrial Revolution as it provides green space by water and access to nature to more than 10 million people each year.

As well as this the trust's canals support 80,000 jobs and contribute £1.5 billion annually to the economy.

Richard Parry, chief executive at Canal and River Trust, said: "The canals were the nation's first industrial transport network, connecting mining and mill towns with the great city docks of the age.

"At 250 years old they are still playing a critically important role in the nation's infrastructure, in water supply and flood mitigation; they are on the doorstep for millions, ready-made to meet key government targets around access to nature and provide the wildlife corridors that are essential for biodiversity.

"They are used for leisure by more people than at any time in their history, supporting businesses and jobs across the country.

"But their future is under threat. The storms this winter caused damage totalling millions of pounds, with towpaths washed away and larger asset failures, land slips and burst culverts.

"We can expect more to come as climate change brings more extreme weather. We are at a juncture.

"We can invest to make these historic waterways more resilient and contributing to national challenges such as water security; or we can see a slow decline, as characterised the canals of the mid-20th century.

"We believe the new government will need and want an active partnership to keep our network of canals safe and open, delivering benefits to communities up and down the country, and we will continue to make the case for the funding necessary to secure their future."

The trust said canals are 'under threat' (image via SWNS)

Campaigns manager for the The Canal and River Trust Alex Patterson said previously the nation was living though "a second golden age of canals".

He added: "In the last four years, there's been a 30 per cent increase in people using canals - for leisure, for boating, angling, walking, cycling, running, paddle boating.

"It really is a constant task to maintain that network and is absolutely critical that we do."

The trust said more investment is needed to protect the waterways (image via SWNS)