'Heartbreak' as 1,000 fish found dying in canal

About a thousand fish have been found dead or suffocating in a "heartbreaking" pollution incident on a canal.

The fish were discovered in the Kennet and Avon Canal in Devizes, Wiltshire, on Thursday evening, with many dead and more coming to the surface gasping for air.

A kilometre of canal has been affected, but owners and managers The Canal and River Trust (CRT), say that they believe the incident was a "one-off" and that the source of pollution had stopped.

The trust is working with the Environment Agency (EA), who said it is working to "raise oxygen levels in the water" and is investigating potential causes.

"We are carrying out a survey of the fish as well as taking measurements and samples for investigation.

"We have aerators on site and more on their way, which will raise oxygen levels in the water in an attempt to prevent further fish deaths," the EA added.

The CRT said it was a "heartbreaking" incident, with environmental scientist Adam Selby believing it was the worst incident he had seen for several years on the canal.

"Oxygen levels (were found) to be down to five to six per cent, which is really low. Anything below fifty percent starts causing us concern.

"We estimate there's been about a thousand fish [affected]."

The EA said its local team was mobilised "immediately" and used absorbent booms to contain the pollution, and sealed the lock so no water could get past.

The trust has warned people to minimise contact with the water until the situation is resolved, and the cause of the pollution has been identified.

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