Heartbroken fishing enthusiasts have been collecting scores of dead fish after a mystery incident at a Swindon lake.

Members of Peatmoor Angling Club waded into the West Swindon lagoon today to fill a wheelbarrow with dead pike, roach and bream.

Experts from the Government’s Environment Agency have sent water samples off for analysis after the discovery of the first dead fish yesterday morning.

At the moment, the cause of the incident which sent oxygen levels plummeting, killing what are thought to be thousands of fish, has not been determined.

Club vice-chairman Richard Reeves said the process of collecting dead fish for disposal was ‘soul-destroying’.

Aerators brought in by the agency have raised oxygen levels in the lake, but Mr Reeves said: “There are still a lot of fish which are gasping.”

In the past, the River Ray, which runs through the area, has been polluted by sewage, but Mr Reeves said they had more or less ruled that out this time.

“There’s no smell, which there would be.”

He said it would take two or three days for the water samples to be analysed.

The club will have to decide how it goes about replacing the fish in the lake, which is used by hundreds of people.

“The cost will run into thousands, and the timescale will go into years.

“We’ll need to establish that what we’re trying to do is feasible.”

An Environment Agency spokesperson said it was investigating the incident. 

"We are investigating a number of fish deaths and fish in distress on the Peatmoor Lagoon, Swindon.

“We deployed aerators to increase oxygen levels and create a safe haven for fish, and have taken water samples to help identify the cause. 

“Members of the public who spot fish in distress should report it to our 24/7 incident hotline 0800 80 70 60 so that we can investigate.”

The agency said its fisheries teams were available 24/7 to respond to incidents. It said its staff were trained to use aeration equipment and provide expert management advice to help restore dissolved oxygen levels and reduce potential risks and escalation.

It added that it would take appropriate enforcement action “with those who break the law and pose a risk to fish and other wildlife”.