HUNDREDS of anglers are celebrating as a local weir has been saved from demolition.

Campaigners had fought against the complete destruction of the weir on the Rover Teme at Powick, for 18 months.

But the Environment Agency (EA) has decided to partially remove the weir instead.

The EA want to carry out the work as part of a major project to increase fish populations of the protected Twaite Shad fish in the Severn and the Teme.

Following the proposals anglers argued that the consequences would be "catastrophic" and more than 200 people joined the Save Powick Weir Facebook group to lobby the EA to scrap the idea.

Lawrence Breakspear, who fishes the River Teme at Powick, set up the group, following fears that the removal of the weir could "decimate" fish stocks and may cause chemical-filled sediment to wash into the River Severn.

Speaking on the decision, he said: "The fact that the Environment Agency have listened to reason - we feel ecstatic.

"It is important recognise it was the hard work of hundreds of campaigners.We have really had to fight- it is a great sense of accomplishment.

"This is a great result for all concerned."

John Cheyne, Angling Trust national regions manager, who has been liaising between the Environment Agency, the clubs and anglers since concerns were first raised, said: "The new design should have less impact on water levels and river depths than a full removal and the much improved fish passage it will provide should be great news not just for the endangered shad that is at the heart of the project but also barbel, salmon and all the key fish species that have historically made the Teme such an iconic river for anglers."

Paul Herickx, Project Manager from the Environment Agency, said: "During the last 18 months we have undertaken a number of detailed assessments, walkovers and surveys of the Teme, providing us with the latest information to model the river, fine tune ideas and develop the best design solution. We found that we were able to achieve the same outcome, to assist twaite shad and other fish species to spawning grounds further upstream, by lowering a section of the weir rather than completely removing it.

"Our project team have been engaging with the interested parties throughout the course of this project and we are pleased that the final design solution is one that the angling clubs are content with. We are also grateful to the Angling Trust for their support in the early stages of the project and assistance in our discussions with the angling clubs."

Construction on the new fish passage will begin in late spring 2018.

The works are part of a £19 million initiative called 'Unlocking the Severn', which will re-open 250km of river habitat on the rivers Severn and Teme to fish and secure the long-term future of the UK breeding population of a rare fish - the Twaite Shad.

The Environment Agency is a partner on this project alongside the Canal & River Trust, Severn Rivers Trust and Natural England.