Dozens more fish have been rescued from Shropshire’s dried-up River Teme in what officials are hoping will be their last emergency operation this summer.

Environment Agency staff carried out their eighth River Teme fish rescue of the summer yesterday at Brampton Bryan to prevent large numbers of fish dying in the low water levels.

Bosses today said they were praying for rainfall to combat worrying water levels in the river at locations including Leintwardine, Tenbury Wells, Knighton and Ludlow.

Catherine Ellis, Midlands communications officer at the Environment Agency, said: “Approximately 100 fish were rescued including brown trout, salmon, eels, lamprey and minnows.

“They were rescued by electric fishing, meaning they are stunned with a mild current and this allows us to get them out.

“They are then moved downstream in tanks on a Land Rover.

“They are then re-released into the River Teme. Since spring we have rescued 3,000 to 4,000 in this stretch.

“It is very unusual for us to have to do it this late. It’s been a dry winter and summer.

“We hope for some prolonged rain soon or we may have to do it again.”

Officers attended two sites yesterday in the Brampton Bryan area.

The problems in the River Teme have been caused by dry weather conditions since the spring which has seen river levels drop below their normal depths.

Yesterday the depth of the River Teme at Leintwardine was recorded at just 27 centimetres – five centimetres below its lowest typical level.

Further downstream at Tenbury Wells the depth was 39 centimetres, four below what experts view as an acceptable level for fish to live.

Chris Bainger, Environment Agency fisheries technical specialist, said: “The work we have done is important as some of the larger trout we have rescued are adults, which will produce offspring next year.”

By Danny Carden