More than 700 dead fish have been found floating on the surface of a river, sparking sadness among villagers.

The gruesome discovery was made on the River Stour in Wye near Ashford earlier this week.

Experts at the Environment Agency suggest the cause may be low levels of dissolved oxygen in the water, and the low atmospheric pressure caused by recent thunderstorms.

Upset villager Jasper Bouverie spotted some of the fish on Wednesday evening.

“It was very sad to see so many of them - I saw at least 20 when only walking just 400 metres," he said.

"I was immediately concerned there might have been some sort of pollution incident.

“I think people in the village are understandably worried about the state of our local river.

“We should all be concerned about our local environment.”

Mr Bouverie, who runs the Our Place Wye Facebook group, contacted the Environment Agency which sent an officer to the site on Thursday morning.

“They did not hang about,” he said.

“They looked into it very quickly and this may be an indication of their concern of the issue too.

“Someone was down at the river at 7.30am on Thursday."

An Environment Agency spokesperson confirmed more than 700 dead fish were found.

“We were alerted to an incident involving dead fish on the River Stour near Wye on Wednesday,” they said.

“Our officers attended the site and confirmed more than 700 dead fish in the watercourse.

“Initial investigation on the water indicated this was caused by low dissolved oxygen due to a combination of the high temperatures we have experienced recently, and the low atmospheric pressure caused by the thunderstorms.”

This incident comes after dozens of dead fish were seen in a pond in Folkestone on Thursday morning.

Residents near Lower Radnor Park reported a “horrific smell” at the water because of the deceased animals.

As temperatures soar, the Environment Agency is now urging anyone who sees fish in distress and algal blooms in waters to contact them.

Last summer across the south east, teams responded to 88 serious incidents directly related to hot weather impacts on the environment, and with a prolonged spell of hot and dry conditions this figure is expected to rise even further this year.

Dave Webb, Environment Agency area fisheries manager, says teams are monitoring the situation closely.

“We aim to respond to reports of fish in distress as quickly as possible and will assist and advise landowners and fisheries who look after private lakes, ponds and watercourses,” he said.

“Help from the public goes a very long way, which is why we provide free advice to all on how to protect fish during hot weather.

“If you see any fish in distress, algal blooms or suspect a fish disease outbreak, please tell us immediately by calling the Environment Agency’s National Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60.”