A LARGE-scale water pump has been brought in to help aerate the lake in Stourbridge's Mary Steven’s Park after around 1,700 fish were found to have died.

Recent stormy weather and high temperatures have been blamed for the deaths in Heath Pool.

Dudley Council chiefs said a number of uncontrollable factors related to oxygen levels in the water had caused the large-scale die off and that the issue has been experienced by other local authorities including Wyre Forest and Wolverhampton.

In warmer weather, water and air temperatures are high which reduces the water’s capacity to hold oxygen. Low atmospheric pressure during thunderstorms further reduces the capacity of water to hold oxygen.

Councillor Damian Corfield, Dudley Council's cabinet member for highways and environmental services, said: “While the warm weather has been a blessing to most of us, the combination of high air and water temperatures and last week’s storms has resulted in the loss of many fish from the lake at Mary Stevens Park.

“We know this is distressing for visitors, but please be assured that we are monitoring the lake on a daily basis and removing any dead fish every day."

The fish have been removed using contractors who specialise in fisheries management and the removal of fish from large bodies of water.

They are continuing to remove any further dead fish found, mainly working in the evening when the park is quieter.

Park managers have also brought in a large industrial pump to help to circulate the water to provide more oxygen into the lake, which should help the fish.

The pump will remain in place until the oxygen level improves.

Cllr Corfield added: “We have also notified the Environment Agency, who have approved our approach and with the introduction of the new pump which is increasing oxygen levels in the water, we hope to see a reduction in further fish deaths.”

Council bosses say the lake will not need to be restocked as the fish population will naturally increase to normal levels over time.