The pond has been emptied and the fish are stored awaiting cleaner water.

The fish pond in Royal Avenue Gardens was overgrown. South Hams District Council workers have started the cleaning the pond which is to be completed before the new year.

It has been fenced off and the fish taken to storage. Barrels of black mud and rotting vegetation have been removed. The pond will be refilled following a few days for it to settle.

A South Hams workman said: “We’ve taken about 20 fish out. The largest was about a foot long. They are all goldfish. We will put them back after the chlorine has dissipated, in a few days. The rats in the bank behind are being dealt with by the environment department. They’ve put traps down but I don’t know how effective they have been.”

The pond had become overgrown. Although the threat from birds was lessened by the overgrowing plants, the fish still faced a continual threat from the rats nesting behind the pond.

The Old Dartmothians had offered to clean and restore the pond and kill the rats in September this year. Following a negative response to the offer from Dartmouth’s mayor, Councillor Richard Cooke, the offer was withdrawn.

Royal Avenue Gardens remains in the ownership of South Hams until completion of negotiations for transfer of the gardens to Dartmouth council.