MORE than 23,000 young salmon were released into the River Lune this week.

The restocking of the river with young fish, aged about 12 months old and five inches long, occurred at various stretches of the river on Monday.

The fish were reared at a hatchery using eggs taken from a Lune salmon and, after acclimatisation, they were released downstream.

Fisheries officer John Cizdyn, said: "These fish should thrive in the Lune and its tributaries and are a major boost to the catchment."