Fish stranded at Worcester Racecourse have been rescued.

Following a triad of recent storms, the Racecourse, like many other areas in the county, was submerged in water.

While most of Worcester is now back to is usual dry state, large parts of Pitchcroft remain underwater.

A by-product of the extreme weather has been that many fish have been swept away from the river and now find themselves living on the Racecourse.

Luckily for them, a team from the Environment Agency have spent this week returning the creatures to their natural habitat.

Chris Bainger, Environment Agency fisheries technical specialist for Worcestershire, said: “Flood recovery work includes fish rescues where possible.

“Today (Wednesday) Environment Agency’s fisheries officers rescued a number of specimen fish stranded due to floods at Worcester Racecourse, returning these specimens to their rightful place the River Severn.

“Surveillance and further rescues will continue for a few days as waters recede.”

 

A huge variety of species were found in the floodwater including roach, perch, bream, pike, dace and salmon.

Mr Bainger encourages anyone who sees fish stranded or in distress to contact the Environment Agency on 0800 807 060.

Meanwhile, with the season opener little over a month away, April 19, the rescue effort couldn’t come as more of a relief for the team at the Racecourse.

A spokesperson said: “Great work by the Environment Agency, scooping up all of the stranded fish at Worcester Racecourse and placing them back where they belong within the river.”

Worcester News: A wide variety of species were found at the racecourseA wide variety of species were found at the racecourse

This is not the first time that fish have found themselves in the unusual habitat.

In 2020, just before the first lockdown of the pandemic, the Environment Agency rescued thousands of fish from the racecourse following floods.

In total, more than 400lb worth of fish were saved.

Unfortunately, the rescue efforts have not always been so successful.

In July 2007 hundreds of dead fish were left rotting on the racecourse, creating a horrible smell that swept across the city.

Locals were left horrified as seagulls and heron feasted on the dead and dying animals.

A resident at the time said: "The smell is appalling.

“About 200 seagulls are having a feast and pecking the fishes eyes out. It's absolutely disgusting."