A BRADFORD district man who lost hundreds of pounds' worth of fish from his garden pond believes he has found out what is responsible for their disappearance - a hungry otter.

For several months, residents of Nab Wood Drive, Shipley, have been scratching their heads over why fish have been going missing from their ponds.

Now, Clive Brown seems to have solved the mystery - after capturing an otter on his doorbell camera appearing to make its way to his pond. 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A still from Clive's doorbell camera showing the otter on his propertyA still from Clive's doorbell camera showing the otter on his property (Image: Clive Brown)

Clive told the Telegraph & Argus: "I had a pond full of koi carp and other fish.

"Around springtime, I noticed my fish weren't coming up for food and thought 'how strange'.

"I drained the pond - and they'd all gone, bar three.

"I thought someone had pinched them.

"I then bought some more fish and put a wire net on - and they went as well.

"I kept scratching my head and couldn't fathom what was going on.

"I then started checking my cameras - and lo and behold, I saw this otter coming down the steps at the front of my house and making its way round the back to the pond."

Clive said he has more video footage - although it is low-quality - which appears to show the otter removing the net from the pond and getting in to it.

He added he had since filled in his pond, partly because he was growing tired of losing his fish.

"I must have lost hundreds of pounds' worth of koi carp," added Clive.

"I am a bit frustrated about it all - but at the end of the day, an otter is an otter and it's trying to survive."

One of Clive's neighbours, who did not want to be named, added: "Several residents have had fish taken from their ponds without knowing the cause - but now Clive appears to have cracked the case and it seems an otter is responsible. 

"Many people just can't believe it."

He added: "We're amazed an otter has taken to patrolling a residential area quite a distance from a river. 

"What we would like to know now is how do we keep the animal safe - we don't want it to come to any harm.

"We're interested in getting some input from a local wildlife group."

Any wildlife group which may be able to help can contact T&A reporter Michael Broomhead by emailing michael.broomhead@newsquest.co.uk