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Northumbrian Water installed two eel screens at the Ovingham pumping station on the River Tyne as part of an £11m environmental program aimed at protecting the critically endangered European eel and other fish populations. The screens will help fish avoid the pump mechanics and continue upstream.

Two more screens will be installed this month, along with necessary pipework and electrical work. This initiative is part of a nationwide effort by the Environment Agency to support eel passage and river health. Northumbrian Water plans to invest £4.5b in the North East from 2025 to 2030, although customer bills are expected to rise by about 6%.