Residents 'angry' pollution kills 900 fish in dyke

The Environment Agency found elevated levels of ammonia and low levels of oxygen in the dyke

About 900 dead fish have been found floating in a dyke due to elevated levels of ammonia and low levels of oxygen, the Environment Agency said.

Residents living by Kings Delph, near Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, said they felt "angry and sick" at the huge number of fish deaths since Tuesday and the foul odour and discoloured water.

Those who spoke to the BBC claimed it was a "sewage spill", but Anglian Water, responsible for the dyke, would not confirm as an investigation was ongoing.

The Environment Agency said Anglian Water’s pumping station discharged for 23 hours on Sunday after a pump failed.

Resident Ben Stimpson said: "I felt sick. I saw the fish coming up for oxygen. I knew they wouldn’t survive."

Residents living around the dyke in Whittlesey have called on the authorities "to take responsibility" for the polluted water

'Unacceptable'

Mr Stimpson, 66, who lives near the banks of the dyke, regularly fishes there with his stepson Tom Christy, and they claim to catch about 30 fish a day.

But since Monday, they have not seen any "fish alive" and have called the incident "unacceptable".

"I also feel angry about it," said Mr Christy, 43. "There are so many dead fish floating by. We even saw a six-pound pike. It was very sad.

"The bottom of the water is disgusting with sludge and mud.

"We have got animals, and they can’t go near the water. We had a boat out here, and we have to take it out.

"Big companies think it’s okay to spoil our lifestyle."

Residents said it made them 'angry and sick' to see the dead fish

Another resident, Helen Walker, also expressed her concern and said that those living around the dyke feel "enough is enough".

She has called on Anglian Water to "accept responsibility for the incident".

Nikki Jackson found dead fish at the bottom of her garden

Neighbour Nikki Jackson said she has not been letting her dog out in the garden for fear of the polluted water.

"It is not pleasant to know there's dead fish at the end of your garden," she said.

An Anglian Water spokesperson said: “Our teams are currently monitoring the river water quality regularly, installing aeration, which gives the fish extra oxygen, and are conducting a full environmental survey.

"We do understand how distressing this will be for the local community, and we are doing everything we can to establish the cause.”

The Environment Agency confirmed it had been a "category one" incident. This meant it had a "major effect" on either water quality, human health, conservation or businesses.

A spokesperson said: "Anglian Water confirmed that they had suffered a pump failure. Formal samples from the watercourse were taken, but discharge had ceased.

"Fisheries subsequently confirmed 862 dead fish, predominantly small roach with lesser numbers of pike and perch.

"We liaised with Anglian Water about where to deploy a mechanical aerator.

“We are awaiting telemetry readings to access the extent of the spill. The aerator will remain on site until 27 September.”