RSPCA and Environment Agency officers were called to an Altrincham pond after approximately 200 fish were found to have died.

Several readers contacted Messenger to express their distress that numerous dead fish and a dead duck had been seen in one of the ponds in Stamford Park.

RSPCA officers also removed two swans after oil was found on their feathers.

The concerns were raised after council contractors began carrying out work to repair the banks and de-silt the two ponds in a 10 week project in partnership with the Friends of Stamford Park group.

Sarah Walmsley, from the friends group, said the project is positive for the park, as the ponds are meant to be cleaned and de-silted every five years, but this has not happened for more than 40 years.

Ms Walmsley said: “The dead duck has been there for some time, since before the work started, but because the pond has been enclosed in a compound no one has been able to get there.

“Fish are particularly sensitive creatures so it’s more likely they have died from disease than anything else, but it’s inevitable that a small proportion might perish due to the stress of being moved.”

Lawrence Toulson, who lives opposite the park, said contractors have moved animals from the larger pond to the smaller one where he claimed the water is ‘stagnant’ and only 12 inches deep.

He added: “There’s carp in there that are 15 to 20 years old and now they’re starting to die, there’s too many ducks and swans in there. I think it’s an absolute disgrace.”

Another reader, who did not want to be named, said: “These animals are like family members to a lot of people round here, there were children crying yesterday.”

An RSPCA spokesman said: "We are aware of the situation and our officers were in attendance.

"We are working with the statutory authorities on what will be the best way forward.”

An Environment Agency spokesman said: “Our officers went out on site after receiving reports of fish in distress.

“They found approximately 200 dead fish, which appear to have died due to a lack of oxygen.

“We are continuing to investigate and in the meantime are working alongside our partners to do everything we can to resolve the issue and save the remaining fish.”

A council spokesman added: “Trafford Council are undertaking restoration works on the ornamental pond in Stamford Park to stabilise the banks.

“As part of this process the council have dammed the pond so that the work can be undertaken.

“During this process it was discovered that there are more fish than originally anticipated as the pond had been illegally stocked without the council’s knowledge.

“The council are now working with animal welfare groups and the Environment Agency to ensure that oxygen levels in the pond are stabilised and the conditions for the fish are satisfactory.

“Once conditions have improved the fish will be removed by a specialist fisheries contractor.

“Two swans who are showing signs of distress have also been removed for treatment. This is unrelated to the work on the ponds.”