Fish stocks returning to polluted river

Fish are returning to a stretch of river where all aquatic life died when the water became contaminated by raw sewage last month.

By The Newsroom

Published 3rd Sep 2010, 15:09 BST

Updated 3rd Sep 2010, 15:09 BST

Nearly 1,000 fish perished in a 2km stretch of the River Line in Battle after a Southern Water pumping station failed on Saturday August 14.

The station, located upstream of the dead fish on the A2100 London Road, was not repaired until two days later, on August 16, when it was reported to the Environment Agency.

Amongst the fish killed were more than 700 brook lampreys, a protected species, 200 brown trout, at least 40 bullheads, also a protected species, and three eels.

But now the Environment Agency said fish, including salmon, are migrating back up the river to the affected area, which is now clean.

The Agency says it has no plans to restock the river, preferring nature to take its course.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "Over all, it is really positive from the environment aspect of it."

Investigations into the death of the fish are ongoing.