Residents have been warned away from entering a Powys River due to a potential fish plague.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) are asking people to stay out of the River Irfon near Builth Wells as a precaution after finding many dead crayfish, possibly due to a crayfish plague.

According to NRW they were alerted to several dead crayfish on June 28. When officers arrived at the scene they found fish dead along a three mile stretch of the water.

Officers found “no visible signs of pollution” and other river creatures seemed fine, leading them to suspect a crayfish plague.

Samples have been sent for testing, and results are expected next week (week commencing 8 July).

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Jenny Phillips, South Powys Environment Team Leader for NRW said: “The Wye catchment, including the River Irfon, is a key habitat for the white-clawed crayfish.

“This species is endangered, with numbers dropping 50-80 percent in recent years due to non-native crayfish and crayfish plague.

“The native, White-clawed Crayfish is one of the reasons the River Wye has been designated a Special Area of Conservation so it’s crucial that we limit the spread of the plague to protect other local populations.

“By staying out of the river, we can help stop the spread of this disease and protect these valuable creatures."

NRW have emphasised that the disease is only deadly to crayfish and is harmless to people, pets and other wildlife and is spread by invasive non-native crayfish, such as the Signal Crayfish.

As a precaution, NRW is asking the public to avoid entering the River Irfon to reduce even minimal contact. For example, if a dog enters the infected river and later goes into another river, it could spread the disease.

A spokesperson for NRW added: “The White-clawed Crayfish is essential for our ecosystem and indicates healthy, clean rivers. Taking these steps will help ensure the survival of this endangered species and maintain the health of the Wye catchment.”