RESIDENTS are worried after more than 1,000 fish were found dead in a river in which children play.

The Environment Agency has launched an investigation after discovering the dead chub fish in the Pool River, Lewisham.

The agency believes thousands of smaller fish were also killed.

The river runs from Beckenham and joins the Ravensbourne at Catford.

The agency said the water became polluted in the Bell Green area. Officers have yet to discover the cause of the deaths.

Derek Humphries, 75, lives in Selworthy Road, 100 metres from the river.

He walks his dog Jenny, an 11-year-old mongrel, past the river every day and saw the Environment Agency experts inspecting the dead fish.

The retired decorator said: "I saw at least 50 dead fish. I'm very worried about what's caused the deaths as I'm fond of the area, it was a sad sight to see.

"What is most worrying is that children play in the river."

An Environment Agency spokesman said: "The contaminant has been flushed through so it is no longer having an impact, but the damage has already been done.

"The incident is very disappointing for our fisheries team which has been working over the last five years to stock the river with fish."

Anyone with information should call 0800 807 060.