EXPERTS have been working round the clock to try to save tens of thousands of fish at risk from two separate spillages.

British Waterways and the Environment Agency are battling to save fish in the Leeds Liverpool Canal in the Grimshaw Park area of Blackburn and in the River Darwen.

As many as 3,000 fish, including chub, roach, gudgeon and eels, are thought to have died after a stretch of the River Darwen from Samlesbury Bottoms to Walton-Le-Dale was affected by detergent pollution at Roach Bridge.

Thousands more are at risk on the Leeds Liverpool Canal after it became contaminated with a sugar solution.

The fish, mostly roach, have been coming to the surface gasping for air after the sugar solution leaked into the watercourse turning parts of the water orange.

Agencies have been aerating the water by pumping oxygen through it. Steve Griffiths, from British Waterways, said: "Sugar is one of the worst pollutants for fish. It causes a build up of bacteria which takes the oxygen out of the water.

"Normally, there is 70 to 80 per cent oxygen in this water but it is now down to less one per cent.

"The hot weather is making things worse because the bacteria builds up more quickly."

Steve Whittam, from the Environment Agency, added: "We have been working through the night and we'll be working until we can get the oxygen levels up to where the fish can survive on their own."

The firm responsible for the sugar spillage faces a heavy fine if found guilty but the Environment Agency declined to name the 'chief suspect'.

A spokesman added: "Until the investigations are complete we won't be able to decide whether to prosecute. No decision has yet been taken."

The Environment Agency is also still investigating the cause of the River Darwen spillage.

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