Neighbours in ‘Britain’s most photographed village’ are furious after bungling workmen accidentally drained their medieval duck pond by leaving a sluice gate open

• Finchingfield, in Essex, is described as the most picturesque village in England
• Pond is in centre of the village, surrounded by medieval cottages and tea room 
• A gate was left open allowing water to drain out of the pond over the weekend 
• Hundreds of fish believed to be mostly trout died after water levels fell low

Well-heeled residents in ‘Britain’s most photographed village’ are livid after its medieval duck pond was accidentally drained, killing fish and causing a stink. 

The centuries old pond in the centre of Finchingfield, Essex, was left to empty unintentionally after Parish Council workers carried out sluice gates repairs.

Surrounded by medieval cottages, a tea room and three pubs, the pond forms the central point of the village which is home to celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and described as the most picturesque in England.

However, villagers last Friday were left shocked after peering out of their window to find the water had been completely drained from the pond.

Finchingfield, in Essex where the water in the pond can be seen at very low levels after it was drained by accident

And resident Ray Cox, 76, said ‘when it got to Saturday, the pond’ which is believed to have been built before the 15th century, ‘was completely empty..’

Roy, who has been living in the village for 21 years, said hundreds of fish had died when water levels dropped over the weekend after a gate was not closed properly.

Roy added: ‘All the fish have died – we just have one or two sticklebacks in there now because the trout have died, but the herons loved it.’

Finchingfield Parish Council said the emptying of the pond was unintentional and was caused during sluice gates repairs.

The Environment Agency confirmed that fish had died as a result – with some residents saying herons had a ‘field day’.

 The centuries old pond in the centre of Finchingfield, Essex, was left to empty unintentionally after Parish Council workers carried out sluice gates repairs

Roy added: ‘I have helped to seal the gates, it is the first time this has happened and I have been living here for 21 years.

‘I can’t see a solution on how we are going to get water back in there.

‘We have had a dry winter and this will have an impact on the lake being refilled.

‘This really needs to be sorted on a national level.

Some residents believe hundreds of fish have died despite the Environmental Agency having counted ten – due to herons ‘having a field day’

‘I mean, we are going to have lots of rain this weekend but the amount of water needed is biblical.

‘It has had a tremendous effect on the village.

‘Once it happened the fish were dying and there were hundreds left.

‘Then all the herons came over. But that is nature I guess.

‘Saturday is one of our busiest days and people were sitting next to really smelly mud.

‘The smell isn’t pleasant.’

Jane Welsh, chair of the parish council, said the work had been agreed by the previous council before recent elections.

A sign in the village features the 15th century duck pond full of water as its residents sit nearby

Locals have been stunned by the mistake in Finchingfield, Essex, which was rated as one of the best places to live in the country by The Sunday Times

She said: ‘It has upset people and I am not making light of it, because to see dead fish in a pond is not a pleasant sight anywhere – not least because it is in the centre of the village.’

The Environment Agency spokesperson said: ‘Work was being carried out on the sluice gate in Finchingfield Brook, on behalf of the parish council who operate the structure.

‘This caused the water level to drop significantly, which resulted in the deaths of 10 fish, including a Brown Trout.

‘Environment Agency fisheries officers attended the scene to check there were no other fish in distress.

‘After a thorough investigation at the site, there are not thought to be any further detrimental impacts on the environment.’

Fed up looking ducks floating in the remaining murky water of their centuries old home

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