Live fish have been removed from the lake in Abbey Fields to be taken to other pools in the area.

Managed by fisheries manager Jon Wall of Jon Wall Fisheries and Anthony Simmons from Leamington Angling Association, the removal is supposed to take place annually but has not been possible since before the pandemic.

As before, the fish were carefully removed by seine netting, and transported to John Wall Fisheries, in oxygenated tanks.

Once there, the fish are sorted, health-checked, fed and prepared for distribution to restock ponds, lakes and pools in the area and potentially across the UK.

The fish were removed on Monday, March 21.

Because the lake is so shallow, the nets were laid from the boat and by people hauling them.

Once positioned, the net was then hauled into the edge of the lake from where the fish can be removed.

This year a skateboard was even recovered.

Mr Simmons told members of Friends of Abbey Fields that Finham Brook has a population of brown trout and signal crayfish.

The trout in Finham Brook can grow up to about 30cm but generally are a lot smaller, whilst the crayfish can reach 7cm.

Abbey Fields Lake has a variety of fish living in it, mostly common carp and mirror carp and these were what were netted on Monday.

A single koi carp was also netted.

It was even suggested that goldfish get 'rehoused' when they become too big or are no longer wanted.

An FoAF spokesperson said: "It is not a good idea to 'donate' them to the lake as they will not like the murky waters, and they also might introduce unwanted diseases to the healthy population of existing residents."

Adding: "Because of the regular removals of the fish in previous years, the fish taken today were in good shape and size as well as being in a good range of sizes.

"Monday's fish were anything up to about 5lbs each, which is why we have seen the large mouths at the duck feeding station.

"Some of the mirror carp will be taken straight to Ryton Pools and the rest to Jon Wall's offices for subsequent redistribution."