Fish left high and dry at Worcester Racecourse as flood levels drop
Fish were in danger of finding themselves left out of water as flood levels dropped at a racecourse – sparking a rescue operation to bring them to safety.
Environment Agency officials were at Worcester Racecourse todaydeploying huge nets to catch the stranded fish.
The racecourse, in Grand Stand Road, was hit hard by the recent heavy floods and left submerged by water after the River Severn burst its banks following heavy rain along with the county cricket ground at New Road. Levels were so high fish and swans, from the river were able to swim easily from the waterway to the racecourse.
But as the flood waters dropped the fish were left high and dry, becoming trapped on the racecourse site as levels dropped to the point where grass can once again been seen. Agency workers trawled the course with a net to bring in the fish before transferring them to special containers to transport back to the river.
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Around 50 fish were rescued and brought back to safety, including a number large pike.
All of the fish caught were first measured by agency officials and then placed in the containers for the short journey back to the river. The largest pike caught is estimated to be weigh between 15lbs and 20lbs.
Environment Agency spokesman Dave Throup said on Twitter that they had to wait until water levels had dropped so they could catch them.
"A couple of the fish had a bit of damage. We have had to wait until now otherwise they would have been impossible to rescue."
He said because of the dropping water levels officials had to act quickly to rescue the fish.
Nearby Bewdley was also hit by heavy floods. Defences have now been taken down and the city is starting to recover from weeks of heavy rainfall.
