Thames given Christmas re-stocking

The River Thames - and anglers who fish in the river - got an early Christmas present this year.

Over 1,000 new fish were placed into the river earlier this month in a bid to boost falling numbers.

The Environment Agency released 1,250 chub and barbel into a 30km stretch along the Upper Thames.

The 25-cm long fish were released at Buscot, Newbridge and Rushey Lock.

All fish released were marked with an orange dot beside their eye so anglers know when they catch one.

Anglers who find any of the newly released stock have been asked to report their catch to the EA.

Barbel were a common sight in the Thames before the second World War, but air raid attacks on London blasted most of the fish out of the river.

A spokesperson for the EA said now that barbel have been released into the Thames, the agency will work to create habitats in which the fish will thrive.