ANGLING enthusiasts are being invited to an evening to raise money for a community lake being planned for Darlington.

As part of the national Get Hooked On Fishing project, which is aimed at getting young people to take up the sport to give them an active interest and keep them away from a potential life of crime, the event takes place tonight.

Project co-ordinator and instigator PC Mick Watson, of Durham Police, will give a talk at Firthmoor Community Centre on river fishing throughout the region.

PC Watson, who is backed in the project by Durham Agency Against Crime, will be joined by Philip Farley, one of the first youngsters to get involved in the scheme, who will talk about carp fishing in the North-East.

Money raised will be used to help develop the proposed community lake on a brownfield site on the Firthmoor estate, which PC Watson hopes will be cared for by youngsters in the area and their families.

Tonight's event will also include presentations to youngsters whose designs have been used to form a badge for the new Firthmoor Angling Club Team (Fact). The doors open at 6.30pm. Talks start at 7.15pm. Entry will cost £1 for juniors and £2 for adults.