Fish have now been removed from a moat which has been popular with anglers for almost 25 years.

Landowners Ashford Borough Council (ABC) has put a stop to fishing at the spot in Park Farm despite backlash from users.

An angling club was spotted at the water, off Bluebell Road, last week removing the fish but it has not been confirmed where the stock was taken or how many fish were relocated.

It comes as the authority said the "moat is not a sustainable location for continued fishing as it requires substantial de-silting works to sustain its ongoing use as a fishery and to ensure the welfare of the fish stock".

But anglers are now concerned as to where the fish have gone.

Sandra Clarke, who has fished at the moat for more than 20 years, said: "I think it is sad that fishing has stopped at the moat.

"I did not even know the fish had been removed.

"It is upsetting enough just to think the fish are gone and that we won't have the summers with the youngsters around there fishing.

"It is very sad and we are very annoyed about it all but what can you do.

"They have made their minds up about it and we tried."

Fishing at the moat was halted at the end of March

A spokesman for ABC said the area would still be maintained as a public open space by the council.

A petition was launched against the move by anglers and their families, and signed by 599 people.

Jemma Coales, who has used the moat for over a decade, says she is frustrated the council did not listen to the anglers.

She said: "The fish were happy and healthy in their ‘home’ and they have been moved because the council was not interested in the community’s views.

"Instead of putting money towards keeping this beautiful nature spot, they spent money on moving the fish and ripping up the platforms. To many of us that does not make sense.

"Why spend £400,000 on the park next to it when this area will now become overgrown, full of rubbish and neglected.

"With the water staying there, and no platforms or steps, this is going to become a dangerous environment for people to potentially slip in, especially in the winter.

"It is a very sad time for our community to have this harmless hobby taken away from us, all because the council did not want to listen.

"They did not listen because they were fixated on the cost of the de-silting and further maintenance of the swims and reeds.

"The silt issue is related to archaeological site and that is why they did not want to move their position.

"The water level has risen again due to heavy rain, there was never a leakage, the low water level was due to reduced rainfall.

"As a community we were happy to help tidy the reeds and share our jobs in order to help maintain the pond.

"Money should have been set aside by ABC when it took control of the moat back when the Park Farm estate was built.

"It has had over 20 years to create funds to de-silt the pond and whilst the parish council and the fishing club have made offers to contribute to the cost, ABC apparently didn’t have the funds."

An ABC spokesman confirmed fishing has now ended at the moat and the platforms have been removed.

"No fishing signs will be installed in due course," they said.

The moat is believed to have surrounded a medieval Manor House.

It is thought to have been used for defensive purposes or for the drainage of the clay ground that the manor was built on.

The only observed remains of any possible medieval structure are some ragstone walls, as well as some terracing which appears to be medieval.