The river was diverted to allow access to coal reserves

Almost two miles of the River Nith near New Cumnock was diverted to allow access to more than one million tonnes of coal which lay beneath.

Scottish Coal it was "delighted" with the project, completed last October.

Jim Henderson, of the Nith District Fishery Board, said the project had been a "real success".

He said: "We have been out in the new river periodically checking on quality and we have been very pleased with the results.

"We have identified a range of fish including salmon and trout.

Rocks and clay

"We have also identified young fish which indicates successful spawning on the river."

Phil Rayson, of Scottish Coal, said: "This project should serve as a symbol of how industry and environmentalists can work together for common purpose.

"It was important for future energy supplies that the coal available at the House of Water site was extracted.

"We knew that this could be achieved by diverting the river which would at the same time correct low flow issues that the river had been experiencing."

Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rocks and clay were shifted to make the new channel for the river.