IT’S good news for the Tyne, as figures show the number of salmon and sea trout ‘running’ the river is at a record high.

The electronic fish counter stationed at Riding Mill recorded 7,113 fish passing through in June 2016, the highest figure for the month of June since records began in 1996 – almost double the previous high of 4,047 recorded in June 1998.

Migratory fish pass through the counter as they make their way upstream to spawn, so the higher the figure, the more fish that have the potential to spawn in the Tyne.

Tyne Rivers Trust fisheries consultant Aidan Pollard said: “Recent flows, thanks to the heavy rainfall, have provided fantastic conditions for migration and these figures indicate excellent marine survival.”

Director of the Tyne Rivers Trust, Douglas Phillips, added: “The record numbers can be attributed to a wide range of factors, from water temperature and flow to the ease with which fish can move up the river.

“Last year, we worked on 10 fish easements, removing obstacles that make it difficult for fish to move upstream, including the fish pass at Hexham bridge, and we hope that with these improvements, we will continue to see the numbers of migratory fish increase year on year.”