THOUSANDS of fish have been released into the River Skerne at Darlington as part of the Environment Agency’s ongoing plans to develop and restore rivers and lakes in the region.

Four thousand chub, dace, roach and barbel have been released into the river this week and a further 3,000 are being put into the River Wear in Durham.

Six stillwater fisheries in the region will also be stocked with 15,000 roach, rudd, bream, tench and crucian carp to help improve angling.

The agency releases fish into the waterways annually using data from national fish surveys to identify where there are problems with poor breeding and survival.

EA fisheries officer Robbie Stevenson said: “We are pleased that we can provide these fish for stocking as part of our commitment to rod licence paying anglers.

“Restoration and the creation of new fisheries for all people to enjoy is a very important aspect to our work.”

The Skerne above Darlington had previously suffered from poor water quality and habitat degradation, but is now seeing huge improvement after work by the agency.

The fish all come from the agency’s fish farm at Calverton, in Nottinghamshire, where between 350,000 and 500,000 fish are produced to stock rivers across the country each year.