'Thousands' of fish die in river

Thousands of fish are estimated to have died in a Shropshire river.

Witnesses said a blue-coloured algae had appeared in the River Meese between Newport and Crudginton.

The Environment Agency said it was due to weather conditions and was not the more dangerous blue-green algae which can also pose a health risk to cattle.

A spokesman said oxygen could usually be added to the water but the body of water involved in this case was too large and access was difficult.

"We believe that thousands of fish may have died (this is an estimate) but, in the case we cannot oxygenate the water - we must let nature take its course," he said.

We have officers out there monitoring the situation.

"The combination of hot weather and low water levels can make fish distressed and lead to death.

"In hot weather, fast growing freshwater algae increases its activity which can exhaust much of the dissolved oxygen in streams, ponds and lakes, depriving fish species of the oxygen they need to survive."