Eel which 'swam from Bermuda' found in Birmingham canal

The eel was discovered in a canal near Birmingham Credit: SWNS

A rare eel which swam from its native Bermuda has been found - 3,000 miles away in a canal near Birmingham.

The 3ft-long creature is believed to be more than 20 years old and was discovered by charity workers cleaning the waterways in the Midlands.

Canal & River Trust workers hauled the 5lb 10oz eel from the canal while investigating a pollution incident.

The eel - native to the Sargasso Sea in the middle of the north of the Atlantic Ocean - is thought to have swam nearly 3,500 miles to make its home in West Bromwich.

John Ellis, national fisheries and angling manager at the Canal & River Trust, described the discovery as "pretty amazing".

"I'm delighted we've had a chance to admire this wonderful creature", he said.

The eel has now been returned to a nearby canal.