It will be the latest vanished species to be ‘rewilded’ to the UK, following in the wake of the release of beavers and white tailed eagles.

It was once so common that a records show it was used to feed pigs, burbots eat smaller fish such as minnows and bullheads.

The fish became extinct in the UK as rivers became straightened, depriving them of their habitat in the shallows and bends, as well as chemical pollution.

A possible bonus of reintroduction is that they also eat crayfish - so may help control the invasive signal crayfish which is taking hold in parts of the UK.