HUNDREDS of fish have died in the past few days after a park lake froze over.

Large koi carp, Crucian carp, bream, roach, fry and skimmers are among the species which suffocated under the ice at Greenbank Park, in Mossley Hill.

Liverpool Council staff had to net the dead fish out of the water and collected four van-loads of leaves from the lake.

Methane gas produced by leaves was trapped underneath the ice, reducing oxygen levels and suffocating the fish.

A pump was set up by the council at the north end of the lake to increase oxygen in the water to keep the rest of the fish alive.

Michael McGrath, 40, who lives in the area and cycles through the park on his way to work, said: “I am really into wildlife and this is a really sad story.

“It is good that the council are doing something about it.

“The weather is pretty but what has happened to the fish is harsh.” Lorraine Horne, 40, of Beckenham Avenue, Mossley Hill, said: “It is good the council is doing something about it.”

She said she thought councils needed to be better prepared when they knew bad weather was approaching.

Greenbank Park is popular with anglers, especially in the summer.