A POPULAR lake will be shut for a further three months after an outbreak of a fish virus.

Canvey Town Council has announced Canvey Lake will be closed until January after the spread of Koi Herpesvirus (KHV).

The Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) advised the council to keep the lake closed.

The lake was closed in early August due to the disease.

A spokesman for the town centre said: "Following a recent inspection CEFAS have confirmed that the lake will be monitored by them for 18 months.

"The council have been advised that if we were to open the lake too early there is a high chance that the KHV virus will return and cause the fish to become distressed. Therefore, it has been recommended that in order to prevent this happening it would be prudent to leave the lake closed to allow the fish time to recuperate and for the virus to become dormant during the winter months."