Volatile weather kills canal fish

Rain has stirred up river vegetation

Hundreds of fish in a canal in Nottinghamshire have died as a result of the recent storms.

British Waterways said the fish died because of a lack of dissolved oxygen in the water.

The organisation has now started pumping oxygen into the Hickling Basin near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.

Long hot summer days reduce the oxygen levels, and recent heavy rain has churned up the algae in the canal, making the situation worse.

British Waterways has spent the last 24 hours oxygenating the site in a bid to stop any more fish dying.

They say they will continue to monitor the site until the weather stabilises.

Leila Griffiths, from British Waterways, said: "We have had Environment Agency staff come out with dissolved oxygen meters.

"They said the levels were pretty low so we think it's that."