Brown Trout spotted in newly-opened River Roch

Photo: Howard Wilkinson Photography

Brown Trout spotted in newly-opened River Roch

A Brown Trout has been spotted in the newly-opened River Roch in Rochdale town centre.

Captured by local photographer Howard Wilkinson on Tuesday lunchtime, the brown trout was having a swim through the newly opened waters close to the Town Hall.

The freshwater fish is a good sign for the new river opening, as they are generally only seen in fresh and clean water.

Mr Wilkinson said: “I was down in the town centre on Tuesday around lunchtime and stopped to take in the view of the newly uncovered river, leaning on the railings near the bottom end of The Walk.

“The people sat on the benches behind me were not the only ones enjoying the beautiful weather. Looking down into the water I was very pleasantly surprised to see three trout basking in the sunshine and feeding merrily in the flow.

“I know that these fish only live in clean fresh water so was extremely pleased to realise that the river water must be of sufficiently high quality for them to be there. I'm sure that this is only the start of the range of wildlife that we will begin to see in our town centre around the uncovered sections of our very own river.”