MORE than 6,000 brown trout are to be released into a Bolton river after stock levels plummeted following a pollution incident.

Last September, an estimated 10,000 fish died after two poisoning incidents in less than 24 hours on a six-mile stretch of Eagley Brook.

The fish were believed to have been poisoned by fly-tippers who tipped acid into the brook as many had burn marks.

The culprits were never caught but the river will be given a new lease of life on Tuesday when Environment Agency officers release the first instalment of 3,800 trout.

The project is being funded by money generated from the sale of rod licences.

Anyone aged 12 and over who fishes for salmon, trout, freshwater fish or eels in England, Wales or the Border Esk in Scotland is required by law to have a rod licence, supplied by the Environment Agency.

The money raised by rod licences is ploughed directly back into projects to maintain fisheries for anglers.

Rod licences cost as little as £3.25 for one day's coarse and trout fishing and there is also a range of weekly, full year, concessionary and junior licences.

For more information log on to www.environment-agency.gov.uk/rodlicence or call 0870 166 2662 (lines open 8am - 8pm until October 2007).