YOUNGSTERS have been given an introduction to fishing as part of a national campaign to promote the sport.

Twenty-six people attended a day at the Aldin Grange Fisheries at Bearpark, near Durham, yesterday as part of National Angling Week, sponsored by the Environment Agency and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

The youth service Connexions sponsored the Durham event, and newcomers were shown the basic techniques while youngsters with some experience were given tips on more advanced techniques in coarse angling.

Organiser Roger Parkin said: "It was a very successful day. We had eight novices and the rest of them already go fishing.

"They caught mainly perch and roach and one of the beginners got a large mirror carp, which was a bit of excitement."