Fish killed after Harthill Reservoir sluice gates opened

Police are working to establish how the sluice gates were opened

A number of fish have died after sluice gates at a reservoir were opened.

The Canal and River Trust said around 140 carp escaped from Harthill Reservoir near Rotherham into a small stream, and many had died as a result.

A spokesperson said local anglers alerted them to the situation and helped to rescue some fish.

Police said an inquiry was under way, with officers investigating a possible offence of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

The incident was described as "distressing" by a spokesperson for the Canal and River Trust, who said fish weighing around 408kg (900lbs) in total were believed to have died.

They said a further 70 fish were rescued.

Engineering work is scheduled to take place at the reservoir and thousands of fish have already been safely removed during the past few weeks.

"Initial reports indicate that the fish had been channelled out of the reservoir in water being drained from the manmade structure so that statutory engineering works can be completed," the trust said.

South Yorkshire Police's Wildlife and Rural Crime Team has appealed for anyone with footage or images to come forward so officers can "establish how this happened".