Thousands of fish have already died following storm surges last month, which caused seawater to push into the Broads through a combination of high tides and wind conditions.

But despite the storms passing, salt levels in the upper reaches of the Thurne, around the Hickling area, remain at dangerously high levels.

A dead fish floats on the surface of the water at Hickling Broad (Image: PA/Environment Agency)

Dan Hoare, head of ecology at the BA, said the situation facing these areas is "unprecedented" at a navigation meeting this week.

It has meant workers have paused planned dredging activity at Hickling to avoid further disturbing the already distressed fish.

He said: "Salt levels at Heigham Sound and Hickling are triple what they are meant to be, levels which will affect most fish.

"We have waited a month but the salt has not gone down, it........

© Eastern Daily Press