FEARS have been raised that an oil leak that affected the Dane and Croco rivers is much worse than first thought with more than 1,000 fish dead.

Pollution seeped into the River Croco and into the River Dane in Middlewich on September 23 before spreading into waterways in Northwich.

Steve Beech, secretary of Winsford Angling Association, said: "This is a major disaster that will have a huge impact on the ecology of the area.

"More than 1,000 fish have died and that has a knock on effect because there are kingfishers in the area that will be short of food and this carries on along the chain."

British Waterways staff and specialist contractors attended the scene of the pollution to contain the leak and begin the clean up operation.

Mr Beech helped to clear up the pollution and described it as an 'extremely distressing' experience.

He said: "We were burying a lot of the fish but it became too big a job for us to do on our own.

"It is very disappointing when you see an area that has taken 20 years to build up be decimated in just three days.

"It is disappointing from an angler's point of view as well because we will now have to travel out of the area.

"It also means anglers from other parts of the country won't come and that obviously has an impact financially."

The Environment Agency confirmed that 1,000 adult fish and many smaller fish had died.

The agency added that an oil spill which affected the River Weaver in Northwich has been contained.

It came from a different source from the pollution in Middlewich. Booms to control the pollution have been left on the river as a precaution.