TROUT are once again flourishing in the Sherston Avon thanks to a £20,000 partnership between the Environment Agency, an Easton Gray landowner and local anglers.

Environment Agency fisheries officer Martin Frayling said old mill sluice gates downstream from Easton Gray had caused a deep channel which had choked a section of the river with weeds and silt.

The poor condition of the river had deprived native brown trout in the area of the clean, gravel channels, or riffles, and pools in which they needed to spawn.

Two years ago, after a significant drop in the number of young trout in the river, the Environment Agency joined forces with Easton Gray landowner John Tremaine and local fishermen to remove the sluice gates and reinstate the river's natural features.

Gravel riffles and pools were created providing oxygen-rich water for young trout and their developing eggs, and the riverbank was re-shaped using natural willow hurdles to increase the speed of the water and form deeper pools downstream for older fish.

Mr Frayling said: "Recent surveys have found young trout around 10 centimetres long on each riffle. These fish are the result of successful spawning last autumn."

"As it is only two years since the improvement work was done, the presence of these young trout is very encouraging for everyone."

He said the riffles had also made ideal spawning grounds for bullhead fish, and a home for native crayfish which were decimated by pollution several years ago.

He said the aim of the project was to preserve and increase the natural brown trout population.

"Restocking is fine in cases of pollution, but it is important to get a self-sustaining fish population, or as near to that as we can get. We wouldn't want to see our rivers denuded of natural fish."

He said there was a marked difference between wild trout and trout bred in captivity.

He said: "Natural trout tend to be a much nicer looking fish with brighter colours and perfect fins."

"You tend to get a certain degree of fin erosion with bred fish. Wild trout are a perfect-looking little fish, and they're much healthier and stronger. They're also much better fighters."

He said the Environment Agency would continue to monitor the river.

Mr Tremaine, who owns the land on which the former mill was located, said: "I very rarely fish, but conservation is important to me. The river is now a lot cleaner and nicer for the fish, crayfish, and the swans."