HUNDREDS of fish have been poisoned at a Brierley Hill wildlife haven sparking fears other protected wildlife could be harmed following contamination from a nearby industrial blaze.

The fire at Wallows Industrial Estate on January 9 saw two units containing bio-diesel set alight in what was believed to be an arson attack.

During the incident firefighters and the Environment Agency worked to prevent the contaminated water from entering the drainage system and damaging wildlife at nearby Fens Pool Nature Reserve.

The reserve, which is the borough’s largest area of open water, is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its population of migrating waterfowl, frogs, toads, fish and the UK’s largest population of Great Crested Newt.

Following the fire, the operation was deemed to be a success, with an Environment Agency spokesman telling the News the damage was minimal with any potential pollution disaster being averted after just two fish were found dead.

But two weeks later, horrified visitors found hundreds of dead fish in the small pool, known locally as the Vee, which was installed as a balancing pool for storm water run-off.

When the News visited the site hundreds of dead carp, tench, roach and perch ranging in size from about 10 cms to 50 cms long, were scattered in piles around the pool, while many others floated in the greying coloured water as the seagulls swooped to pick them up.

The Environment Agency has admitted more than 500 fish have been killed.

And dog walkers, who visit the reserve every day, expressed fears about the water contaminating not just the other surrounding pools, but also poisoning other wildlife living on the reserve.

Tony Hartshorne, from Pensnett, who was walking his retired greyhound Pete, said: “We get lots of dogs round here and birds, swans, moorhens and horses which could all come into contact with the poisoned fish and water.

“It’s such a shame this has happened. It is a lovely area, but it is getting spoilt.”

Meanwhile Mr Jones, who visits twice a week to feed the horses, said he was shocked to see all the fish.

He said: “There are lots of foxes, birds and dogs who all go near the water and some of the horses are loose and could easily go and drink the water.”

A spokesman for the Environment Agency confirmed the adjacent Middle Pool had received a small amount of polluted water, but it had diluted quickly.

Meanwhile Severn Trent Water has stopped the flow of storm water run-off to the balancing pool to enable it to recover and environment chiefs are working closely with Dudley Council to consider the next steps.