Pedestrians were forced to make diversions around rotting fish and splattered innards on Wick Bridge yesterday that one local said caused "quite a pong".

What appeared to be two large salmon were left lying on the pavement amongst small decaying fragments on the ground and adjacent wall of the bridge.

Some walking by crossed to the other side of the street via the pedestrian crossing and others held their noses due to the nauseous smell.

When images were shared on social media one local wit suggested it could be a "flying fish" that hit against the wall of the bridge and others suggested they could be "farmed salmon" that fell from a passing vehicle as it negotiated the nearby roundabout.

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One woman wrote: "My dad who works in aquaculture suspects salmon. They often die now after spawning and being oily fish they can be quite smelly." Others agreed with this sentiment and said the dead fish could have been taken from the river below and set there for some unknown reason.

Highland Council said that its local waste team is "dealing with removing the fish".

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