ANGLERS descended on a town's seafront in search of a winning catch at an annual competition on the North-East coast.

A total of 190 competitors vied for the prizes in five hours of North Sea fishing at the 17th Seaham Town Council Angling Competition.

Fifty-two came forward for the end of contest "weigh-in" at Seaham Sea Angling Club's premises, at Clifford House.

Their total catch of 169 fish had a combined weight of 92lb 13.5oz.

The winner emerged as Michael Peel, of Horden, just further down the County Durham coast, whose prize catch was a 2lb 2.25oz cod.

It was enough to land him the £350 first prize and an accompanying trophy.

David Bond, of Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, finished second with a cod weighing 1lb 6.87oz, and Gordon Magee, fishing on familiar home water in Seaham, won third place thanks to a 1lb 6.5oz cod.

Barry Stocks, from Leeds, took the disabled award, Stanley Cowell, also from Seaham, was top junior, while the best female competitor emerged as the appropriately-named Denise Fisher, of Hetton-le-Hole CountyDurham.