HUGE numbers of dead fish were found by residents at a popular fishing spot — the second case of its kind in Bolton in the last month.

About 25 dead fish, along with about five or six dead wildfowl, were found at Crompton Lodges in Moses Gate Country Park, Farnworth, and have been removed.

This follows the discovery of at least 150 dead fish at the Eatock Lodge in Westhoughton last month.

The fish died as a result of a sudden drop oxygen levels, which was caused by a rapid increase in the number of algae in the water, due to warm weather.

The algal bloom has since stopped growing and oxygen levels have returned to normal.

It is not known how the wildfowl died.

David Hall, of Stopes Road, Radcliffe, found the fish when he was walking in the park with his friend.

Mr Hall has said the council did not act quickly enough to stop the drop of oxygen levels in the water.

However, the council says the drop was ‘sudden’ and that it is monitoring the situation with the Environment Agency.

Mr Hall said: “It’s not been nice for any residents walking round here — the smell is absolutely awful.”

Eric Hyde, an activist for Little Lever and Darcy Lever, added: “I heard that the oxygen levels went below 50 per cent, which is why these fish died.

“Crompton Lodges has not looked or smelt very pleasant area at all, but at least the situation is starting to improve.”

A council spokesman said: “We received reports that there were dead fish on the surface of the water on August 6. We went down and of the three lodges at the site, one was found to have around 21 dead fish present, which were removed.

“We’ve been working with the Environment Agency and our understanding that this issue probably arose due to a sudden drop in oxygen levels in the lodge. We are continuing to monitor and liaise with the Environment Agency.

“Reports of around five to six dead wildfowl were also received on August 8. The cause of death is not known and the wildfowl have also been removed.”

A spokesman for the Environment Agency added: “There was an algal bloom in the water at Moses Gate Country Park, which caused the death of about 25 fish.

“By the time we got access, the algal bloom had stopped growing and oxygen levels were returning to normal.”