Cheshire East Council has completed an environmental clean-up, following an incident of pollution in the River Weaver.

A large number of dead fish and birds, as well as debris, have been removed by the council from the riverside park areas in Nantwich.

The environmental clean-up was carried out by the council, as the work falls outside the remit of the Environment Agency. 

The environmental clean-up of the River Weaver was carried out by Cheshire East Council, as the work falls outside the remit of the Environment Agency (Cheshire East Council).

Officers from the Environment Agency had also attended the river following reports of a second fish kill and are continuing to closely monitor the situation.

Chair of Cheshire East Council's environment and communities committee, Cllr Mick Warren, said: "Our officers worked very quickly and safely to ensure the river was cleared swiftly.

"We are awaiting further information from the Environment Agency on their enquiries into this incident."

Ward member for Nantwich North and West, Cllr Anna Burton, attended the site when the Environment Agency were present.

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She said: "I spent hours on the phone and then on site with officers from Cheshire East and the Environment Agency, looking for the source of the pollution and clearing up the dead fish.

Chair of Cheshire East Council's environment and communities committee, Cllr Mick Warren (Cheshire East Council).

"It was an upsetting experience. 

"Officers worked extremely hard in difficult circumstances, but the issue here is more profound.

"Our rivers are under constant assault from those profiteering from pollution."

Cheshire East will be seeking to reclaim the associated costs of the environmental clean-up once the source of pollution has been formally determined by the Environment Agency.

Ward member for Nantwich North and West, Cllr Arthur Moran, added: "I agree with the comments made by Councillor Anna Burton.

Ward member for Nantwich North and West, Cllr Anna Burton, attended the River Weaver site when the Environment Agency were present (Cheshire East Council).

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"What we need to do now is to work with all the organisations involved to find a long-term solution, which would avoid any reoccurrence of this."

Anyone who suspects pollution or other incidents in rivers and other waterways should contact the Environment Agency's 24-hour incident hotline immediately on: 0800 807 060.