THE CAUSE of an environmental disaster that killed thousands of fish at Swindon Lake remains unknown.

The Environment Agency launched an investigation after fish started dying at Peatmoor Lagoon on August 1.

This unknown pollution incident caused a severe oxygen crash in the water, and wiped out almost all of the fish stock that had taken 40 years to build up there. 

READ MORE: Police confirm investigation in Penhill area of Swindon

Now Peatmoor Angling Club committee member Ted Rowe has provided an update on social media, thanking people for their donations towards a GoFundMe crowdfunding page that was set up to repopulate the water.

He also revealed that the search for answers for what might have caused the disaster is still ongoing. 

He said: "We have reached £2,000 from our GoFundMe page towards our restocking.

"We lost over 800 Bream between 3lbs and 6lbs, including several specimens touching 10lbs, over 120 Tench between 5lbs and 8lbs, three Carp of over 20lbs, over 70 Pike several were double figure fish and over one tonne of Roach, Rudd, Perch and gudgeon. Several Roach and perch were over 1lbs.

"We lost an enormous number of our fish stocks and it will take quite a few years to bring the lake back from this disaster so any amount donated will help towards doing this."

He added: "At present, we are still waiting for the Environmental Agency to confirm the cause of the fish loss before we can start to restock the lake.

"We will keep you informed when we have any further information."

After the large scale of the fish deaths was discovered, the Environmental Agency sprung into action straight away.

Large aerators were deployed at the West Swindon lake to try and stop the mass deaths. 

Swindon Advertiser: Aerators at Peatmoor Lagoon

At the time, Peatmoor Angling Club vice-chairman Richard Reeves said members were ‘horrified’ at the discovery.

Mr Reeves, who has been a member of the club for more than 30 years, added: “We’ve never known anything like this.”

Members of the club then had the heartbreaking task of collecting the dead fish from around the lake for destruction by council workers, and all fishing there has been banned since. 

On August 7, the Environment Agency said it was waiting on water sample results to return, which should take a week.

Swindon Advertiser: The entrance to the lake The entrance to the lake (Image: Paul Wiltshire)

But it appears these are set to take longer than expected. 

You can visit the club's GoFundMe page here: https://gofund.me/c95a0cf8

Alternatively, you can send a cheque to Peatmoor Angling Club at the following address: 3 Holly Close, Swindon SN21HX.