A rescue operation is under way to rescue thousands of stranded fish from shallow waters following the collapse of a Black Country canal embankment.

More than 2,500 fish have already been saved by experts from British Waterways who are trying to limit the damage after part of the Stourbridge Canal embankment slid into the water on Sunday.

They have been catching stranded fish caught near the breach at Stourton between Middle Bridge and Wordsley Junction.

The rescue operation is expected to take up to a week as helpers continue to make their way down the canal.

Read the full story in today’s Express & Star.

A rescue operation is under way to rescue thousands of stranded fish from shallow waters following the collapse of a Black Country canal embankment.

More than 2,500 fish have already been saved by experts from British Waterways who are trying to limit the damage after part of the Stourbridge Canal embankment slid into the water on Sunday.

They have been catching stranded fish caught near the breach at Stourton between Middle Bridge and Wordsley Junction.

The rescue operation is expected to take up to a week as helpers continue to make their way down the canal.

More than 50 mega litres of water were lost when a 20 metre of the embankment slid into the River Stour during the early hours of Sunday morning following torrential storms.

British Waterways spokeswoman Annabel Smith said: “More than 2,500 fish have been rescued so far. They are all native species such as roach, bream, chubb and carp.

“They have been moved using a net and have been taken from the breach section to the other side of Wordsley Junction.

“We did lose some fish when the bank collapsed but the fish loss has been minimal,” she added.