ORGANISERS of a fishing project are throwing a line to North-East anglers and inviting to help them get more young people hooked on the sport.

Two fishing lakes opened this week at Wadsworth Fishery, near Witton Park, County Durham, where Bishop Auckland Angling Club has teamed up with a ground-breaking youth project to launch the first centre of its kind in the UK.

Backed by Sport England and the Environment Agency, the Angling and Conservation Centre is the region's base for Get Hooked on Fishing, a scheme encouraging teenagers to take up the sport and stay away from crime.

The lakes are open to visitors, where daily fees help to support the project.

The angling club invested money in stocking the lakes with carp, bream, tench, roach, rudd, perch and eels and is already seeing the fish breed naturally.

Secretary John Winter said: "We have created a first for the region which will benefit all anglers.

"The centre has given a permanent home for Get Hooked on Fishing and is a first rate facility for the club and visitors. It will become a blueprint for other areas to follow."

Former policeman Mick Watson set up the youth programme three years ago with the club and Durham Agency Against Crime.

The junior anglers are given free instruction and encouraged to pass on their knowledge and skills to others. They also learn about conservation and environmental issues.

The Northern Echo has helped the Durham scheme by supplying transport for the young anglers.

Day tickets cost £5, £2 for under 16s, £3 concessions. Contact the centre on (01388) 609734, or visit ghof.org.uk