A BIG clean-up operation has been carried out after 50 dead fish were discovered in a Widnes Canal.
Anglers raised the alarm after spotting fish floating lifeless on the Sankey Canal.
A thick layer of green Canadian pondweed and duckweed caused low oxygen levels in the water.
Environmental officers from Halton Council and a fisheries officers from the Environmental Agency removed more than 50 dead fish.
Halton Council brought in a specialist contractor to clean up the area.
Experts removed several tons of weeds from a section of canal between Carterhouse Bridge and Johnsons Lane.
A council spokesman said:”The contractor is going to return in October to do further weed removal and some cutting back of other aquatic vegetation.
“We have seen an improvement in the water already.”
Anyone who sees dead fish, fish in distress or a pollution incident should call the 24 hour incident hotline on 0800 807060.
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