'It could be a total wipe-out': Residents and experts fear dead fish fallout after chemical spill in Walsall

It comes as Environment Agency experts carry out tests into the water after the toxic chemical spill, looking for signs of sodium cyanide, a chemical that dissolves in water and can cause severe health effects or even prove fatal.

Two days after the spill, residents are now sharing their shock at seeing the amount of dead fish floating on the surface of the water.

'You can see them come to the surface'

"I couldn't believe it. You could actually see the fish floating to the water," those are the words of lifelong angler Jeremy Taylor, 32, who has been using the Walsall canal system since he was 10 years old.

The chemical entered the water stream at an unknown time on Monday and has so far seen a multi-agency response of nine organisations and the closure of more than 14 miles of waterway.

Jeremy said: "I don't know whether it was an accident or if it was on purpose, but it's horrible either way. Some of these fish have been in there for years and years.

"If you stand here long enough you can actually see them come to the surface. I don't know how it's going to affect the fish population or the birds when they eat them. It's terrible."

The response includes the Walsall and Sandwell Councils, Environment Agency, UKSHA, West Midlands Police, ambulance and fire services, the Canal and Rivers Trust and Severn Trent Water.

'It could be a total wipe-out'

John Williams, secretary of the Birmingham Angling Association, told the Express & Star: "While it isn't one of the canal systems we monitor, it obviously does link to our canal systems and I have seen pollution similar to this, but not as big.

"If it does fully affect the whole of the 14 miles, then it will be a total wipe-out for the fish. It really does depend on the extent of the pollution. It's certainly going to be more devastating than anything I have personally known. They will most definitely need to get a new stock of fish."

Mr Williams said that while canals aren't 'healthy waterways', fish do thrive in the systems and that if the incident is isolated, the surviving fish will repopulate.

The angling expert said: "It's always concerning when large amounts of fish die. Canals by and large are not healthy waterways for humans. Pollution does happen fairly regularly, but it can be localised by using the system's locks.

"If it's localised properly, then the surviving fish will repopulate quite quickly – but in this case, I think it has the potential to devastate the fish population."

Latest advice

Walsall Council is continuing to tell residents to stay away from the water and its accompanying towpaths, with Walsall Council leader, Councillor Garry Perry, saying that their priority is 'the safety of the residents'.

Councillor Perry said: "Our priority is the safety of our residents. I share their concerns and hope to see this incident resolved as soon as possible.

"We are working closely with our partners to manage this situation which has been declared a major incident. For your own safety please avoid this area of the canal and its towpaths."

Anyone who comes into contact with the water and experiences adverse health affects is urged to seek health advice by calling either 111, or 999 in an emergency.