RESIDENTS in East Tilbury, and particularly young people, have been engaged on a rescue mission through the past week's heatwave and have saved the lives of thousands of fish.

The drama was played out around the banks of a 'balancing pond' close to the Bata industrial estate in the village, which has slowly ebbed away as the sun's heat has scorched the area.

Water levels dropped to due to just few inches and exposed the many fish in the pond, which included many goldfish and other species dumped there by residents.

Earlier in the week an appeal was made for people help in the rescue operation and for residents to offer homes for the rescued fish in their home ponds.

Villager Lyndsey Bullman played a key role in helping organise the rescue and said: "We saved huge amounts of fish. If you helped then you should be amazingly proud of yourselves.

"If it wasn't for you we would have no fish alive instead we have rehomed 10s of thousands. Well done all of you. I'm so proud of how you pulled together and helped one another.

"Well done kids, also for clearing up all the rubbish. I still have fish if anyone wants any."