Fish rescued from power station

Barbel fish have been living in the pool for four years

Fish living in a pool at a power plant in Shropshire are being rescued before their home is drained.

The fish have got into a pool which holds cooling water for Ironbridge Power Station. But the water has to be drained for maintenance work.

Environment Agency staff are using ladders to climb down the 6ft pool wall and will then try to catch the estimated 230 fish with nets.

A spokesman said the fish had got in from the River Severn.

Fishery officer Bill Burleigh said they had first got into the pool four years ago and the population had grown.

"I've undertaken a number of fish rescues over the years but this has got to be one of the strangest locations.

"The fish all seem pretty healthy and hopefully they will thrive in their new, more traditional, home," he said.

The fish, mainly chub and barbel, will be put back in the River Severn.