Failed fishery offers free trout

Aaron Hopkins has been raising trout since he was a teenager

Thousands of trout are being given away free after the closure of a business near Axminster, Devon.

Rock Mill Trout Farm at Membury, which opened last year, is being handed back to its owners and the lake filled in after it failed to make a profit.

Aaron and Naomi Hopkins, both 29, said they would rather give the 6,000 rainbow trout away than bury them.

"It's pretty devastating but at least we know we tried our best to make it work," Mrs Hopkins told BBC News.

It's heartbreaking really, but it's just one of those things Naomi Hopkins, Rock Mill Trout Farm

"It's the recession - nobody seems to be buying trout any more.

"We've got no option but to put it down as a bad experience and try to come to terms with it."

Mrs Hopkins said opening the trout farm last year was the realisation of a dream for her husband, who has been rearing trout since he was 17 years old.

"At this point we really don't know what the future holds, but my husband is a very talented fish farmer, so I don't think he'll struggle too hard to find a job."

The 6,000 rainbow trout all weigh 10 to 14oz (283 to 397g) and Mr and Mrs Hopkins said anyone - including restaurant owners - who wants some fish can collect them anytime before Monday.

"It's heartbreaking really, but it's just one of those things and we don't want to have to bury the fish."