Hundreds of worms found dead by Cuckmere River

Dogwalkers were shocked to see piles of earthworms at the bank of the Cuckmere River at the village of Litlington near Seaford yesterday.

There was a spring tide overnight which caused the water to flow over the river’s banks. Sussex Wildlife Trust said this flooding of salt water could have proved lethal.

There were downpours of heavy rain last night which the trust said would have caused the worms to come to the surface before the floodwater came down.

Hundreds of worms were found dead by a river bank yesterday morning (Image: The Argus)

One dog walker said: “All I can think of is that the spring tide caused water to flow over the top and the salt water killed the worms. But it’s very strange, I have never seen it before.”

Charlotte Owen, communications officer at Sussex Wildlife Trust, said: “It’s difficult to say for certain what’s happened here but earthworms are sensitive to salt, so a sudden influx of brackish floodwater could prove lethal.

"Worms often come to the surface during heavy rainfall, so it’s possible they were caught up and trapped in salty floodwater for long enough to kill them, then left behind as the water receded.

“Freshwater flooding can also impact earthworm populations. They can survive in waterlogged soil as long as there is enough dissolved oxygen, which they absorb through their skin.

Dozens of dead worms submerged following flooding last night (Image: The Argus)

"Prolonged periods of wet weather and waterlogged conditions could have exacerbated the impact of last night’s severe weather event.

“Another possibility could be dropped or discarded fishing bait.”

People had to be evacuated after the River Arun overflowed causing flooding in Littlehampton and Shoreham this week.

One resident said it the “worst he has seen in 20 years”.

In Shoreham, the A259 was completely flooded with a gym owner saying his business was significantly damaged.

In Brighton, a cordon was put in place in North Street over fears that part of the roof of Boots was unsafe in the stormy weather.