ALMOST seven per cent of anglers are fishing illegally in the region's lakes and rivers, according to estimates from the Environment Agency.

Anglers need a rod licence  if they are aged over 12 and fishing for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt or eel in England, Wales and the Border Esk and its tributaries in Scotland.

Anyone caught without a licence risks a fine from dedicated enforcement officers employed by the Environment Agency.

Figures from the agency show that between April 2011 and March last year, 681 of the 9,922 anglers checked - 6.86 per cent - were illegally casting their lines in lakes and rivers across the North-East and Yorkshire.

Kevin Summerson, Environment Agency enforcement team leader, said: “Every penny of rod licence money that we get is reinvested in angling, including a whole range of projects bringing improved facilities for anglers, plus fish restocking, invasive species eradication, and projects that help people take-up fishing for the first time.

“Our enforcement officers regularly patrol all our waters, and we will be identifying problem areas to bring the evasion rate down.”

A total of 191,000 rod licences were bought last year in the region, generating about £3.3m.

They cost from £27. Concessions and short-term licences are also available.

For more information visit the Environment Agency website, www.environment-agency.gov.uk