HUNDREDS of dead fish were found floating in a lake at a Stourbridge park after thunderstorms starved them of oxygen.

Heavy downpours on Tuesday (July 23) caused rapid pressure changes and reduced the amount of oxygen in the pond at Mary Stevens Park.

Park manager Stuart Mitchell said he was informed about the demise of the fish yesterday (Wednesday) morning.

Explaining what had caused it, he said: “It was the thunderstorms, it takes the oxygen out of the water.”

He said the council would remove the fish tomorrow morning (Friday July 26).

Councillor Heather Rogers, chairman of Friends of Mary Stevens Park, said she was not surprised to see the dead fish, which she believed were largely common carp and roach.

She said: “We had this problem three or four years ago when we had a period of drought; the level of the water went down and there was a lack of oxygen.

“This time we think it could have been the storm. The water level was very low.”

Cllr Rogers added: “If people are feeding the ducks, I would ask them not to leave too much white bread if they are not eating it as if the water level is low and there isn’t much of a gap between the surface and the silt then it is going to fill it up.”

Natalie Timbrell was at the park with her three children on Wednesday (July 24) afternoon.

She noticed the fish while feeding the ducks and said: “It is upsetting for the kids to see. We come to the park three or four times a week and sometimes see the fish come up to the top when we’re feeding the ducks.”

Councillor Tracy Wood, cabinet member for environment and culture added:
"We have been monitoring the pond at Mary Stevens Park throughout the hot weather but unfortunately the recent thunderstorms have caused a sudden change in oxygen levels in the water. While the pond does already have a pump to help maintain oxygen levels, we will now be introducing an additional temporary pump as the hot weather continues.
"We are liaising with the Environment Agency and have also made arrangements for any dead fish to be removed from the pool."