Work has finished on a much-loved village pond after it had to be drained to rid it of illegal fish.

Prussian carp, an invasive species from East Asia and Central Europe, was found in the water at Matfield, near Paddock Wood, and an enforcement notice to remove them was issued by the Environment Agency.

They are considered a risk to native fish and importing them or releasing them in the wild in England is banned.

A letter from the government agency to Brenchley and Matfield Parish Council, which maintains the village green, said: “They can hybridise with other carp... and the females can produce clones of themselves by utilising the sperm of other fish to activate egg development.

“This and the wide range of habitat and food they can use can lead them to dominate waters they are introduced to.

“Due to the risk they pose to native fish and fisheries it is illegal to either import live Prussian carp into England or to release them into the wild in England.”

For this reason, it told the parish council it needed to “eradicate” the fish from the pond and councillors decided to take the opportunity to do extra work to sustain the green’s future.

Last month, works started to remove the rogue fish – of which there were thought to be several tons – which included draining the water, covering the bottom of the pond with hydrated lime and leaving it for two weeks.

The project then entered its second phase which included digging deeper pockets of water, removing vegetation, working on the islands, repairing the retaining wall, creating areas for wildlife, adding land drains and replanting wildflower seeds and lilies.

The pond is now being left to refill with rainwater.

A spokeswoman for the parish council said more than 120 tins of silt have been moved to the bank sides, the pond’s depth has been increased and 150 metres of reeds have been planted.

She added: “It should look natural but also these will serve to give cover for animals and to knit into the banks so that the silt stays in place. The leaks have been repaired and new drainage implemented to help fill the pond naturally.

“We have also planted groups of yellow iris, Pontederia and yellow and white lilies, held down by engineering bricks so that they stay in place and all the banks have been seeded with grass and wildflower seeds.

“With the whole bank of daffodils under the lime trees the pond will look spectacular in the spring, so we will have to be a bit patient.”

A decision on whether fish can be reintroduced to the pond is expected to be made at the next parish council meeting.

The spokeswoman added: “The final stage is for the parish council to consider re-stocking the pond with fish, to provide fishing for the children of the parish, under the supervision of a Pond Warden.

“Whilst the Environment Agency has a view about the sustainability of this option which will be considered, many residents have happy memories of fishing as youngsters in Matfield Pond, and this will be taken into account.”

The works have cost around £20,000 in total.

The parish council has around £132,000 in precepts this year meaning the pond project is costing around 15% of this but it is not being funded by it, instead the council reserves are being used.

Its annual volunteer clean-up of the roadside bank is also being held on Sunday, November 19, with residents being encouraged to attend.