A NORTH-EAST angler has come to terms with the one that got away after losing his British record.

Seven years after landing the biggest minnow ever caught in British waters, Jim Sawyer, of Ferryhill, County Durham, has lost his title.

Hearing the news, the 51-year-old retired club singer said: "I'm pleased for the new record holder. It has been good fun for me to hold the record especially for such a funny catch.

"Obviously, it was a complete accident catching a minnow. I was using chopped worm to fish for roach and perch, and I hadn't even realised what it was at the time.

"I thought it was too big to be a minnow so had to ask one of the other guys what it was and they realised the significance.

"When we found out that it was the biggest of its kind I was chuffed and enjoyed my 15 minutes of fame.

"I hope the new record holder does the same."

Mr Sawyer netted the record when he reeled in the 13.5 grams minnow at Whitworth Lake, near Spennymoor, County Durham, in 1998.

The man who landed the new record was aquatic scientist Dr Mark Everard, from Wiltshire, who went fishing on a pond near his home when he spotted a shoal of unusually small fry in the water.

The mighty minnow - the smallest member of the carp family and the most abundant British freshwater fish - weighed in at 15 grams.

Mr Sawyer has been consoled by the fact that he still holds the Ferryhill and District Angling Club title for the largest pike - a 23lb fish caught at Tunstall pond.

He added: "I have been fishing for about 20 years for fun and relaxation, the records are just a bit of fun for me.

"I'm moving to Spain in the New Year, so I'll just have to keep up the sport there and hope to land a mammoth catfish, which I believe are pretty big out there."