5,000 fish released to restock poisoned Wandle

Thousands of fish are being released into one of London's best angling rivers to restore stocks after a chemical spill.

Tens of thousands of fish were killed in the Wandle in September when Thames Water released large quantities of dangerous chemicals during a cleaning accident.

An Environment Agency report found fish stocks were devastated along a 5km stretch between Beddington and Merton.

Thames Water has admitted full responsibility and pledged £500,000 to clean up the area. The agency is investigating the incident and a prosecution is likely. Yesterday, it began restocking the river when it released 5,000 juvenile fish. The batches of one- to two-year-old chub, dace, roach and barbel have been reared and trained for life in the wild at Calverton Fish Farm in Nottinghamshire.

"It was the perfect time. Our studies have shown the river has recovered enough to sustain them," said the agency's John Sutton, who oversaw the release.

"However, these are young fish and it will be several years before we have fish large enough for anglers."

The agency has worked with the Anglers' Conservation Association, the National Trust, the Wandle Trust and independent surveyors to decide the most effective way to rehabilitate the river.

Theo Pike of the Wandle Trust said: "We need to give nature a helping hand to restore fish stocks as there are many barriers to the free movement of fish up and down the river."

Thames Water chief executive David Owens said the company had been quick to acknowledge it was responsible. He added: "We are acting quickly to not only restore but improve the health of this important river."