People collecting the shed load of mackerel in east Belfast

BELFAST City Council has warned the public not to consume fish that fell off the back of a lorry in east Belfast at the weekend.

A lorry driving along the Ravenhill Road shed its load of mackerel at My Lady’s Road around 8 pm on Saturday night.

It was rich pickings for local people who came out with bags and also stuffed their pockets with the silver darlings.

Police said they had contacted environmental health officers to clean up the road.

Today, the council says that only 600 fish was recovered from the scene.

And it is warning the public not to eat the fish for fear of any contamination.