River salmon numbers are boosted

The Environment Agency hopes it will 'kickstart' the salmon population

Thousands of salmon are being released into a north Devon river where the fish population has been in decline.

The River Torridge will be boosted with 22,000 salmon fry, released into tributaries this week by the Environment Agency.

The river is not meeting conservation limits at which salmon need to spawn to sustain a healthy population.

Numbers have fallen in recent years as a result of farm pollution, over-fishing and fewer spawning beds.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said they were attempting to "kickstart" local salmon numbers.

They will also be carrying out improvements within the catchment to help as many of the young fish as possible to survive.