A LAKE has been closed to the public following an outbreak of a disease which killed 100 fish.

Canvey Town Council has banned fishing at Canvey Lake after the spread of Koi Herpesvirus (KHV).

CEFAS took fish for testing after the deaths.

Concerns were raised about oxygen levels, inexperienced fisherman and also the KHV disease.

A spokesman for the town council said: "Following the notice of confirmed designation placed on Canvey Lake on August 8 and issued by the Fish Health Inspector of the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) acting as the competent authority for the purposes of the Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009, the Town Council can now confirm that examinations of samples taken by CEFAS from the dead common carp found evidence for the presence of koi herpesvirus (KHV) disease and that their diagnostic testing for these samples is now complete.

"The Town Council’s Community Warden continues to attend the site daily, walking banks and observing the fish stock where possible.

"There are no implications for human and animal health.

"For more information please contact the fish inspector on 01305 206700 or fhi@cefas.co.uk."