Illegal crayfish traps seized from canal

The traps can catch other wildlife such as water voles

Several illegal crayfish traps which could have been dangerous to other wildlife have been removed from a canal by officials.

Environment Agency Midlands said the seven unauthorised traps were removed from the Birmingham and Fazeley canal after a tip-off and added: "These traps catch not only fish and crayfish but other wildlife such as water voles."

The UK's native crayfish, also known as white-clawed crayfish, and water voles are protected species.

The UK species is under threat due after the spread of the invasive North American signal crayfish, the BBC has previously reported.

One of the traps was seen placed near the banks of the canal

Government regulations on crayfish trapping say people must not trap or remove native and non-native crayfish in England without written permission from the Environment Agency.

The agency did not say where on the canal the traps were removed.