A CITY brook where more than 500 fish died after it was polluted two years ago has yet to be refilled despite promises by the Environment Agency they would replace the fish, a councillor has claimed.

Environment Agency officers battled to save hundreds of fish struggling for oxygen in Laugherne Brook in Worcester in September 2017 after it was mysteriously polluted.

Councillor Richard Udall, who represents St John's, said the Environment Agency promised to restock Laugherne Brook at the time and is calling on the council to discuss the future of the nature reserve in the face of hundreds of new homes being built.

Cllr Udall said building the homes near the brook could result in the water getting polluted again.

The Environment Agency has said it cannot currently comment as it is still putting together a legal case over the pollution incident.

Councillor Richard Udall said: “Residents and users of the Laugherne Brook are increasingly concerned about the habitat in the area, fish stocks have almost disappeared, insects the fish feed upon are also missing.

“I am very concerned about the plans to build hundreds of new houses adjacent to the brook at Temple Laugherne Farm, I am worried more pollution and surface water could easily drain into the brook and cause even more incidents like the one in 2017, killing off more wildlife.

“The Laugherne Brook Nature Reserve is a wonderful oasis of nature, it is enjoyed daily by many people, but the brook itself is fast becoming a dead river, we need to act now to save the few species which are left and to organise a long term plan to re-stock the brook and to make it a safe place for wildlife.

“I would like to bring the environment committee to see the nature reserve, meet the volunteers and to have a better understanding of the issues and concerns local people have. It’s an important area of St John’s and we need to act to preserve it.”

The Environment Agency could not say whether it planned to restock the brook with fish as it was still putting together a case against some of the people who it believes had polluted the water more than two years ago.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “We are currently compiling information for a potential case against those we believe responsible for the pollution in the Laugherne Brook in September 2017.

“We’re unable to release additional information, as this may jeopardise any potential future legal aspects of this case. We do rely on local people to be our eyes on the ground and urge anyone who suspects a river pollution to report it to us on our 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.”