Fish stocks boost after pollution

Seven different species of fish were released

Thousands of fish have been released into a Leicestershire river to boost numbers after the water was polluted.

The Environment Agency has put the 5,000 young fish into the River Soar as part of a re-stocking programme following major pollution in July 2006.

About 10,000 fish, including barbel, bleak, bream, chub, perch, pike and roach were killed by the pollution.

About 14,000 new fish were released into the river the same year and another 10,000 fish in 2007.

The fish were raised at the Environment Agency's fish farm at Calverton in Nottinghamshire. The work is funded from the sale of rod licences.

Fisheries team leader Simon Ward said: "This is yet another example of how we are using funds from the sale of rod licences to improve fishing for everyone."