FUN fair bosses have strongly denied being responsible for discarding dozens of dead goldfish on grassland.

Complaints made to Colchester Council stated dozens of fish has been left to die after Colchester Fun Park left the site, on land off Cymbeline Way.

Colchester Council subsequently launched an investigation and concluded the deaths had occurred on private land and no action could be taken by the authority.

Council bosses believed the dead fish had been part of the fun fair.

But now a spokesan for the fair, which was held in April and May, has strongly denied anyone associated with the event was responsible.

She also said she wanted to know how the fish had been dumped on the site without their knowledge.

She said: “We scoured that land before we left, right down to the fag butts, which we cleaned away.

“There wasn’t a trace of goldfish then.

“The landowners also checked it because they like to keep it immaculate.

“We always do our checks when we leave sites because if we don’t, we just wouldn’t be allowed back - it’s as simple as that.

“I really am questioning how they came to be there.

“Believe me when I say anything is possible in this business.

“We are an honest fair and we want to give families who can’t afford much an affordable day out, that’s all.

“There won’t be any fish at the fair next year.

“We’ve never had them before and we won’t be having them again.

“We don’t need this sort of trouble.”

The spokeswan said although fish were being given out as prizes, their well-being was always paramount.

She added: “It was one man who we know very, very well who has been doing it for years.

“He is very experienced and he just would not have done this.

“I am really trying to find out what has happened here.”

The RSPCA has been alerted to the deaths but it is understood no investigation will be taking place.

Mike Lilley, who is the Colchester councillor responsible for licensing and public safety, said the authority does not allow live pets to be given away as prizes on its own land.

However, it has no say on what is carried out on private land.