Meadows water warning after fish found dead.

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People have been urged to avoid contact with the water at a popular Fife visitor attraction after scores of fish died.

Management at Lochore Meadows has advised members of the public to stay away from the loch until further notice following the contamination scare at the country park.

It is understood staff spotted a number of dead fish in the water on Thursday evening, and the decision was taken to issue information telling people to avoid the area as a precautionary measure.

There are no indications about what has caused the deaths but it is believed as many as 200 fish have perished in the loch, mainly perch and pike.

Last weekend’s heatwave brought hundreds of people to the park but signs have been put up to alert visitors before what is likely to be another busy weekend at the park.

Community manager Kevin Sayer said: “Water hygiene testing is being carried out at Lochore Meadows to try and establish why a number of fish in the loch have died.

“As a precautionary measure, we are currently advising visitors and their pets to avoid contact with the water.”

The Forth Rivers Trust, which works in collaboration with others to conserve, maintain and improve water, land and freshwater habitats in the Forth area, is involved in the investigation, and dead perch, pike, roach and eel from the loch have been recovered for further examination.

Alison Baker, director at the Forth Rivers Trust, said it had been a “bit of a shock” to discover the extent of the problem.

“We don’t know exactly what’s happened but there’s obviously been a significant number of fish that have died in an incident, which may be caused by pollution.

“One of the aquatic ecologists has been down to the loch and has brought some fish to do some dissection on, so hopefully we’ll get to the bottom of it.

“We’ve spoken briefly to the Lochore Meadows Education Centre and we’ll be sharing our findings as soon as we have anything.”

A representative from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency was at the loch yesterday morning to take water samples.

Events and activities due to take place in or around the water are expected to be cancelled this weekend, although members of the public should check with the Lochore Meadows Outdoor Education Centre to see if the situation has changed.

The park itself and the Willie Clarke Centre will remain open as usual.

“We don’t know exactly what’s happened but there’s obviously a significant number of fish that have died in an incident, which may be caused by pollution. ALISON BAKER, DIRECTOR FORTH RIVERS TRUST

Picture: Steven Brown. The country park’s management has put up warning signs around the loch.