A large number of fish which became trapped in the drainage structure near to the Homs Road car park in Ross-on-Wye died at the weekend.

The Environment Agency was alerted by concerned members of the public who saw the fish in distress.

On Saturday, April 2nd the team first tried to get more oxygen into the water and to rescue as many of the fish as they could.

EA manager for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, Dave Throup told the Ross Gazette that the access was very difficult due to the drainage structure.

He said that the fish were a range of coarse fish, including roach, which had been looking for a calm place to spawn when the river levels were very high.

As the levels dropped the fish were unable to get back into the river and became trapped in the flood alleviation scheme.

A member of the public told the Ross Gazette that several bags of dead fish were taken away by the Environment Agency.

The Agency have handed the situation over to Herefordshire Council as they own the structure.