Investigation after hundreds of fish die in lake

The dead fish have been taken from the site in bin bags

Hundreds of fish have died at a nature reserve after a dramatic drop in a lake's oxygen levels.

Residents spotted the fish floating on top of Jubilee Lake, near Brinkworth Road, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, on Thursday.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council is working with the Environment Agency and Wessex Water to investigate the "source of any potential pollution".

The town's angling club's chair Stephen Bell said: "It's difficult to guess now how many are still dead on the bottom. Others were gasping for air."

The Environment Agency (EA) said oxygen levels were about 18%, when they should be 60% to 80%. An aerator has now been installed to boost oxygen levels.

The town council, which owns the site and has removed most of the fish, has warned dog owners not to allow their pets to enter the water.

An aerator is now in the lake to increase the oxygen levels

Mr Bell described seeing a "thousand plus fish" floating on top of the water. The species included carp, bream, roach and pike.

Fishing at the lake has been temporarily ceased while experts await the results of water samples.

Stephen Bell, chair of the angling club which uses the lake, said they saw fish gasping for air

The EA said it is supporting the council with technical advice, guidance and aeration equipment.

"If we find evidence of wrongdoing, we will take the appropriate enforcement action," an EA spokesperson added.

"If they can't give a definite diagnosis of what is it, it's difficult to restock if it might happen again.

"Prior to this, it was fishing very well and now we don't know what we have left," Mr Bell added.