Samples gathered as fish deaths investigated

Samples of fish killed by pollution in a Cornish river have been collected as part of an investigation into their death.

The kill of potentially thousands of fish in St Austell River, known locally as the White River, was reported to the Environment Agency at 17:45 BST on 19 June.

Cornwall councillor for the area, James Mustoe, said he wanted "the nature of the pollution" made public after he was told dogs became sick after swimming in the river. Meanwhile, one resident said the community had felt an "equal mix of absolute anger, rage and sadness".

The Environment Agency said the investigation was ongoing and there were no concerns about bathing water quality at nearby Pentewan beach.

Potentially thousands of fish including trout, eels and brook lamprey were killed, said officials.

Visiting the site of the pollution, Mustoe said the sight was the "worst he'd ever seen".

"The whole community was really upset," he said.

"Apart from the wildlife damage, there are numerous businesses that rely on the river or sea that it runs into."

He called on the Environment Agency to "provide more information soon and that whoever is responsible for the incident is identified and punished to the full extent of the law".

Officials said a source of the pollution had been identified and it stopped by Thursday night but further information could not be shared to avoid prejudicing the investigation.

Resident Toni Dowrick said the community had an "equal mix of absolute anger, rage and sadness".

"It's the the most distressing thing to have seen," she said.

"We want to know why it happened and what is to be done about it and how we are move on from this?"

The Environment Agency said it was monitoring the impact of the pollution on invertebrates in the river on Saturday.

It said the evidence collected would used as part of "regulatory action to bring those who pollute the environment to account".

"Environment Agency staff checked the water quality of the river using water quality meters on Friday and lifted our guidance against swimming," a spokesperson said.

"We have no ongoing concerns about bathing water quality at Pentewan and are confident that the water quality of the river has now returned to normal."

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