FISH owners have been warned not to dump unwanted pets in a park lake following a spate of dead fish appearing.

Over the last eight weeks a number of residents have contacted Southend Council raising concerns that an increase in dead fish in Southchurch Park lake was caused by chemicals being added to the water.

But this week the Environment Agency has conducted numerous tests and results showed the water quality is not a problem.

And the government body, alongside Southend Council, have raised fears that fish owners are dumping their unwanted pets in the public lake, which is then spreading disease.

The lake at Southchurch Park was not stocked with fish by the council and the inspection by the environment agency found a mixture of “feral goldfish” and koi carp, which have most likely been dumped in the lake by people who no longer want them in their home pond.

A number of the fish are showing signs of bacterial and fungal. infection.

Scott Dolling, director of culture, tourism and property, said: “Across the borough, the council’s parks team work hard to maintain the high standards we set ourselves in our parks, which has led to Southend having five Green Flag parks, including Southchurch Park.

“The welfare of the fish placed in the lake is important to us and we are working with the Environment Agency on the best way to address the problems at Southchurch Park. I would like to confirm that parks team do not use any chemicals in ponds or lakes that would endanger wildlife.

“Introducing fish into a lake can spread disease and sadly, this is what appears to have happened in Southchurch Park.

“We kindly ask that unwanted fish are rehomed appropriately and not released into our lakes and ponds. We also would ask that people do not place native species including tadpoles in our ponds and lakes as this can spread diseases.”