HUNDREDS of fish have been rescued froma Herefordshire river where falling water levels left many stranded.

Environment Agency officials moved the brown trout and salmon fromthe River Teme near Leintwardine after the recent hot and dry weather caused water levels to flow through rather than over the gravel beds.

This had left the fish stranded in isolated pools, leaving themat risk of suffocating due to lack of oxygen.

They were carefully stunned using a small electric current and taken to deeper parts of the river.

“The recent hot, dry weather has caused river levels on the Teme to fall, leaving themstranded,” said the Environment Agency’s fisheries technical specialist Chris Bainger.

“The rescue is part of the work we do to protect fish and conserve fish stocks during these weather conditions.

“It is made possible by the contributions of anglers through their rod licence fees.”