THE River Darwen has been restocked with hundreds of coarse fish this week as part of the Environment Agency’s annual programme to improve Lancashire’s waterways.

The agency put chub and dace into the river on Tuesday and Wednesday to help improve depleted stocks.

Spokesman Darren Wilson said: “We are extremely pleased to be stocking these fish into the rivers. Improvements in water quality mean these fish can thrive and go on to breed and continue to do so for years to come. It is great news for the environment and local anglers.

“Money raised from sales of rod licences is invested in England’s fisheries, including a wide range of projects to improve facilities for anglers, manage predation, protect stocks from illegal fishing, restock fish, eradicate invasive species, improve habitats and work with partners to encourage people to take up fishing for the first time.”

The river, which passes through Darwen and Blackburn and joins the River Ribble at Walton le Dale, was contaminated until the 1970s, a throwback to the Industrial Revolution.

In recent years the Environment Agency has stocked the river on an annual basis as water quality improved.

The restocking programme involved 5,000 chub and 5,000 dace from Calverton fish farm in Nottinghamshire being put into the rivers Darwen, Alt, Wyre and Douglas across Lancashire. Anglers wishing to fish along the River Darwen can buy a rod licence by calling 0344 800 5386, visiting any Post Office branch or going online.

n On Wednesday, the Environment Agency put 15,000 crucian carp into four still waters, including Top Lodge and Birk Acre Lodge in Chorley, as part of the national scheme promoting the conservation of the species.